Should Public Dollars Compete with Private Business?

By: Martha Crosley

I had a here-we-go-again moment last week. It concerned taking something away from the majority and blatantly providing a small minority special interest with public property. Remember Wesselman Park? Remember last year when many of citizens of Evansville were upset and dismayed that park land was being used to support those interested in baseball, so interested in fact that they would take land away from a public park (land which belongs to all of us ) and tear down a public building (Roberts Stadium) to do so? This land serves as buffer to Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve, a state and federally recognized preserve, the only one of its kind in the world. Many did not like that idea.

Well, here we go again. The Evansville Community Tennis Association has secured approval from the Parks Board to greatly expand the tennis courts and parking, and to erect a huge tennis building in Wesselman Park. I have nothing against tennis but substantial problems have been brought to light.
The first and foremost issue for many people is the taking of multi-use public land and making it single use. The land in question is a large open grassy field which is really the only large open space in the park where kids can throw a Frisbee, play touch football etc. It is also away from the main park entry road so if someone is chasing a ball, it is less dangerous should their attention lapse for a second. There is minimal parking so more land and trees would be taken for that.

For those of you interested in tourism dollars, these tennis courts will bring in a very low and slow return on investment. Tennis tournaments do not bring the numbers like other sports such as soccer and certainly not like the inflated estimates presented to us for the baseball fields last year. Again, tennis is a great sport, but placing more courts and a large building in Wesselman makes no sense unless tennis is your life.

Another problem concerns the fact that the contract which the Evansville Community Tennis Association has with the Park Board states that the adding of more tennis courts to Wesselman Park had a 2009 end time limit. The Park Board tells me that they verbally extended this contract but I can find no record of the date given or the length of extension. Surely it was not extended indefinitely and surely it would have been strongly reconsidered with all the remonstrations that occurred last year with the baseball fields fiasco. I can’t imagine our city government extending a contract with, say, a supplier of services or products for something like cleaning the stadium, printing our forms, or for paper towels in the rest rooms without a written and signed contract.

Then there is the issue of the large pole barn structure that is proposed to be built to contain 6 tennis courts. Folks, we already have a large building adjacent to Wesselman Park. It is called Roberts Stadium. It has been suggested on more than one occasion that we need to propose new uses for Roberts. Well here is one. And it is already built. If properly handled, Roberts could not only serve as a place for indoor tennis, but for other indoor sports as well. The concrete surrounding this building could be used as outdoor courts.

This smacks of another problem, the Evansville No-Plan-Is-Our-Plan Policy. If the new arena, the fate of Roberts, the baseball fields, the tennis courts, Wesselman Parks needs, considerations for the neighborhood, the desires of the people of Evansville, the sewer issues in the area, the pumps under the floor at the stadium etc, etc, etc had all been considered in making an overall plan years ago with input of experts and the public, think how much time, money, stress, and aggravation would have been avoided.

Other problems: Who in current local government is supporting this tennis expansion as a payback for favors rendered? What about legal problems like the question of tax money supporting the business of tennis when other local sports businesses in Evansville are running on their own with no public support? (Here I refer the gift of public land on which to run tennis and the potential of the Convention and Visitors Bureau providing funds for the project.)

Other problems continue to surface. Other connections run deep. It is your money and your land people. Start asking questions.

Suggestion: Contact the following groups to express your concerns. You should email or write a letter, not phone, for clarity, courtesy, and acceptance. It is time for the citizens to speak out.
1. Evansville Parks Board – Request a copy be provided to each board member.
2. Evansville City Council – Request a copy be provided to each board member.
3. Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau (att. Mr. Bob Warren)

IS IT TRUE that the Summer of 2011 is becoming deadline summer down at the MLK Entertainment Complex?…that there have been two deadlines come and go and that both were granted extensions to their deadline?…that the developer for the McCurdy Hotel has a new deadline of July 31st to finally show that the funding needed to start the project is in place?…that this dog chases tail dance never seems to end and has run on for over 4 years now unfunded and unstarted?…that it may just be true that the end value of the proposed work will not support the cost to do the work?…that the only way to get something done with the McCurdy is to raise the property values in downtown Evansville?…that as long as a 90 room hotel right next door only commands a bid of $350,000 and a 40,000 square foot building is listed for sale at $150,000 that the probability of convincing a lending institution to loan out $9 Million against a fixed up McCurdy is very low?…that all eyes will be on the McCurdy during July?…that in 36 days we will know if there is a new deadline or a search for a new developer on the horizon?

IS IT TRUE that the deadline of the week for the last week of June is the deadline for the Woodruff Hospitality LLC to perform under the term of the agreement to construct a Hyatt Place hotel by “closing” the financing?…that it is alleged that there are two factions within Woodruff Hospitality LLC that are not getting along very well?…that it has been reported that two groups have commitments from lenders to enable either of them to go forward but that administrative details are in the way?…that the countdown clock until we may have no agreement in place to construct a downtown hotel is now at 5 days and counting?…that the Evansville Redevelopment Commission has already approved issuing a new Request for Proposal for the hotel project?…that the expectation is that if a $30 Million rabbit is not pulled out of a hat by Thursday June 30th that the new RFP will go out on July 5th?…that the RFP will require that bids are submitted by July 19th?…that such a short time window to respond essentially eliminates any interested parties other than the ones that are already involved to put a bid together?…that going back to the original RFP and allowing a longer response time to say 45 days will create an opportunity for real outside interests to be developed…that opening the bid up completely will also allow the clock to be reset so that the financial plan can be based on economic reality?…that the best plan is to set the clock back to October of 2010 and pretend the entire process that was devoid of vetting and poorly executed to be corrected this time?

IS IT TRUE that SMG really pulled a rabbit out of a hat to get Kenny Chesney to come back to Roberts Stadium after the City of Evansville had recommended that it be mothballed?…that the average ticket price is about $65 and that 9,000 people are expected to attend?…that if the Jehovah’s Witnesses had a $3.5 Million economic impact on the area that we wonder how much the Convention and Visitors Bureau would estimate a sold out concert impacts the City of Evansville?…that the tickets sales and fees alone for the Kenny Chesney concert will exceed $600,000?…that most of these people will hit the concession stand, buy a shirt, eat out before the show etc. and spend even more money?…that we expect that the economic impact of this event will be over $1 Million?…that this is the same Roberts Stadium that “can’t host big name acts and is falling apart” according to local government officials?…that those who wish to give Roberts Stadium a chance only need an event like this per month to cover the costs?…that the hubbub over Roberts needs to be addressed and needs to have a deadline like the other projects in town?

IS IT TRUE that the powers that be are on record as saying that the new Arena is fully booked on weekends AND that Roberts needs to be torn down so it does not compete with the new Arena?…that this is talking out of both sides of one’s mouth?…that both statements cannot possibly be true?…that since there is no contract with VenuWorks that it is most certain that the fully booked statement is simple puffery and is not true?…that we also wonder how the entire inventory of skyboxes were sold without any authority to price them or sell them?…that the only way that could have happened is if VenuWorks is not in charge of selling the skyboxes?…that if VenuWorks enters into any contracts of over one year that their TEMPORARY AGREEMENT requires ERC approval?…that the public record shows no ERC approval for the sale of skyboxes?…that we wonder if that is all puffery too?

Evansville, IN – On Sunday, August 7th Country Music Superstar Kenny Chesney will perform on Roberts Stadium’s legendary stage one last time. Tickets will go on sale to the public Friday, July 1st at 10am. Chesney will be joined by tour mate Uncle Kracker for the Evansville performance. Ticket prices are $79.50 and $49.50 plus additional fees and available at the Roberts Stadium Box Office, All Ticketmaster Outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, charge by phone 1-800-745-3000

Chesney’s love for his Evansville fans and the relationship with local radio stations WKDQ and WBKR has combined to give Roberts Stadium a proper country send off. Chesney is currently playing and selling out NFL stadiums around the country and is looking forward to his last concert at Roberts Staiudm. “It speaks to the character of the artist and the great love for his fans that Chesney chooses to give Roberts Stadium a final send off” said Jon Prell, WKDQ on air personality.

IS IT TRUE? PART 2 June 24, 2011 Sewers and VenuWorks

IS IT TRUE that other local media has also picked up on the fact that there is not long term contract in place to manage the soon to be completed Evansville Arena?…that Brian Miller of the Fox 7 news team who allegedly had some difficulty with a FOIA request regarding the Arena issues did a report last night that furthered the exposure that VenuWorks is not under long term contract?…that Mr. Miller was able to get an on camera admission from Arena project manager John Kish that without a contract with the Evansville Icemen that a contract with VenuWorks cannot happen?…that the Evansville Arena if it was built for any sport in particular, that sport is hockey?…that the pictures from inside the Arena look and feel like a hockey rink that can be adapted to other things?…that Roberts Stadium is basically a basketball stadium that is adapted to other things?…that Mr. Miller’s excellent report is on the following link?

http://tristatehomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=281287

IS IT TRUE that a judge has finally accepted the deal reached between the City of Evansville and the EPA with regard to repairing the combined sewer system?…that Evansville basically has another 17 months to put a design together for EPA approval and then another 18 years to implement that design?…that it is a shame that a federal agency was required to get the City of Evansville to step up and invest in the infrastructure that will enable it to basically wipe its own rear end?…that at least this basic function has to be learned and mastered in the next 20 years?…that the City of Evansville will be able to celebrate its 212th birthday with this important milestone?

IS IT TRUE that even though the EPA has granted us the economic mercy of allowing the City of Evansville 20 years to get the sewers in order that it has not mandated that we take every day of the 20 years to do so?…that we can do this much faster if we have the courage of leadership and the pride in our city to make the investments required to do this?…that if there has ever been a project with an immediate urgency to implement that cleaning the municipal backside is it?…that other than kicking the can down the road so the next generation of residents will have to pay the bill is the only justifiable reason to delay doing this job

IS IT TRUE that the fact that Evansville has these antiquated sewers with overflows that make much of the city smell like a rear end is not a good selling point for business attraction? …that one can also correlate where the blight is in our housing to where the smell is?…that it is also expected that there are public health issues associated with whatever toxins are in that smell?…that if there has ever been a public works project with a need for urgency that this is it?…that Interest rates are at all time lows, that people need jobs, and this city can send a strong message to the world that the rust belt antics of the last 50 years are over by fixing these sewers in a MUCH shorter time

IS IT TRUE that the cost to implement this solution will be in the range of $12,000 per household based on the disputed $500M price tag that would create a payment on a 5%-30 year bond of $65 per month per household.?…that a never publicized piece of reality is that if this project is delayed by 10 – 20 years that the cost of the project will increase by as much as triple what today’s estimates are?…that interest rates will not be any lower than they are today and are actually expected to rise over time?…that the present negative growth rate in population will put the financial burden over even fewer people (Evansville will be less than 110,000 in 20 years at current rates of shrinkage)?…that delaying this to the limit will cause some poor future head of household to see a monthly increase in their sewer bill of nearly $350 per month (1)?…that we all need to tighten our belts, hold our noses, and get on board to fix this now for $65 per month to salvage the lifestyle of the City of Evansville that we call home?

(1) Based on 3x price increase, 8% population decrease, and a 2x interest rate increase from today’s values.

IS IT TRUE that Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote a song about Bee Slough once or at least it could have been?…ENJOY

IS IT TRUE that one can do a little searching around on the internet and learn many things about specific industries in nearly any market that one can define?…that Mole #1 was curious yesterday about just what the exact occupancy numbers and average daily rates are with respect to lodging in Evansville, Indiana?…that in 2008, 2009, 2010, and thus far in 2011 that the average occupancy in better hotels in Evansville has been 57.4%, 58.0%, 59.4%, and 58.3% respectively?…that adding inventory to a market that is predictable and mature with a 3 year trailing average of 58.3% and projecting an occupancy rate 17% higher than the three year trailing average would need to make a very compelling argument?…that one case where that has been true in Louisville with the 21C Museum Place Hotel?…that 21C is unique, is ranked as the top hotel in the United States, and is usually booked in a market where 3-Star conventional hotels are routinely occupied and priced just like the Evansville market?…that breaking from the average pack is only done by being much different and better than the pack?

IS IT TRUE that another internet search was done to figure out what the average daily rates have been for lodging in the Evansville market?…that in 2008, 2009, 2010, and thus far in 2011 that the average daily rate in better hotels in Evansville has been $75.48, $75.01, $75.57, and $80.68 respectively? …that adding inventory to a market that is predictable and mature with a 3 year trailing average of $75.37 with a total variance of only 56 cents and projecting an average price that is 67% higher than the three year trailing average would need to make a very compelling argument?…that things like this have been known to happen but that to do so that a 67% realizable difference in value will have to be sold to prospective customers?

IS IT TRUE that these statistics were compiled from 22 of the better hotels in Evansville with the smallest having 50 rooms and the largest having 250 rooms?…that there are no so called flop houses or rent by the hour hotels in the control group?…that these numbers by virtue of their repeatability and predictability are very good indicators of what one can expect in the Evansville lodging market?…that the only way to really break from the pack in any market of any industry is to be different and to deliver the value day in and day out that will command higher prices and elevated demand?

IS IT TRUE that last night at the ROMP Music Festival in Yellow Creek Park in Owensboro that Steve Martin and his band did indeed play “the Atheist Song” that was posted on the City County Observer yesterday?…that this song is basically about the fact that faiths all have beautiful music and art and that atheists do not have a hymnal?…that the song was a mix of humor and bluegrass music and that it was very well received?…that the concert last night is part of a 3 day bluegrass music festival that is being put on by the International Bluegrass Music Museum that is located in Owensboro?…that the cost to attend is $25 per person per day?…that at mid day yesterday that over 10,000 wrist bands had already been sold?…that this festival and the museum that is holding it are breaking from the pack and doing something that is much different and to their target market much better than the pack?…that we predict continued success for the ROMP bluegrass music festival and any other thing at all that separates itself from mediocrity?

$5,000 sought to Install New Pole

The Veterans Council of Vanderburgh County, Inc. is embarking on a fund raising campaign for a new 35’ flag pole, solar lighting, and landscaping. After researching the costs, we have set a budget of $5000 to complete this project. The flagpole will be placed in front of the Coliseum on the southwest corner of the building.

We are seeking sponsors and any donations we can get. Those businesses, organizations and individuals who become a sponsor will be recognized on a plaque of marble stone as part of the landscaping around the flagpole. All donations will be recognized and appreciated. Donations are tax deductible.

Sponsorships

Gold Sponsors $1000 — Silver Sponsors $500 — Bronze Sponsor $250

Please make checks payable to the:
Veterans Council
PO Box 3764
Evansville IN, 47708.

IS IT TRUE that one can now purchase Credit Default Swaps on the debt of the Government of the United States of America?…that the volume of trades in the CDS’s has grown by a factor of 10 (900%) since 2008?…that the very idea that there is basically a financial instrument (casino bet) available to gamble on the failure of the economic system of the United States is sickening?…that if such a thing is available for certain cities or states in America that there may be some money to be made betting on something like the failure of Detroit?…that is sickening too?

IS IT TRUE “CCO Mole #3” just told us that 2nd Ward City Councilwoman Missy Mosby and 6th Ward City Councilman candidate Al Lindsey have discussed the political and personal issues between themselves?…both individuals went away from this meeting with a great deal of respect between each other?…that you can expect Missy Mosby and Al Lindsey only be saying positive things about each other during rest of the campaign?…that thanks are in order to 4th Ward City Councilwoman Connie Robinson and 5th Ward City Councilman John Friend for brokering this meeting between Missy and Al?

IS IT TRUE we would like to thank Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams for creating a “NO BARS ON MEDICAL CARE” facility on site?…that this is another example of why Sheriff Williams not only enjoys great popularity locally and state wide because he thinks outside the box?

IS IT TRUE we would like to congratulate the membership of the Memorial Community Development Corp. for cleaning up their neighborhoods and starting a “Gardening Program” aimed at feeding the less fortunate in the Center City area? .. we would like to take our hats off to Program Director Serita Cabel and Rev. Adrian Brooks for creating these worthwhile community program? …that we also take our hats off to DMD Director, Tom Barnett for making community funds available to start these worthwhile community based programs?

IS IT TRUE that we are extremely pleased with the hard work that Greg Wathen, President of the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana and Mayor Weinzapfel who did the convincing of the powers that be at our Number #1 Corporate Citizen, Berry Plastics to add an additional 120 jobs here in Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that we take our hats off to Jim Garrard , Interim Director of the Evansville Water and Sewer and Mayor Weinzafpel did in convincing the Federal Judge to set a 20 year time frame to fix our expensive sewer problems?…that just because we have 20 years to do this repair does not mean that we have to take the whole time period to do so?…that our sewer problems are repellant to people and an uncertainty to the cost of doing business?…that biting the bullet and fixing the sewers no matter what it cost will establish Evansville as a leader and send a message to the world that Evansville is not going to die a slow death like much of the Rust Belt?

City County Observer Reader Comments that Pack a Punch

Take That: June 24, 2011

IN RESPONSE TO: E. Lon Walters Job Creation Plan

“Lon I can promise you that Vectren isn’t lowering their rates… another problem I see will be the Evansville water and sewer rates. With all the EPA mandated work, especially in the 2nd ward, I’d expect them to triple in the next 10 years. It would be a better idea to bulldoze everything south of Covert Ave and west of Greenriver so we could just abandon the sewers in that area.” Henry

“NOW THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO READ! Thank you for taking the time to express your “THOUGHTS, IDEAS OR WISHES We need people in office that or self employed and have employee’s.” andymic

“The American dream is still alive, just badly wounded at this time.” E. Lon Walters

“Small businesses are going out of business or moving to other countries because they are over-taxed, too many government restrictions, and burdened down with too many WASTEFUL government regulations. Small businesses make up the majority of the private sector labor force. WE need good Conservatives like you to be in office who have great ideas for Evansville, For example the plan you would like to initiate the “Evansville Growth Capital Corporation”. A great idea which i whole heartedly support, and you as well.” David Dickerson

“You say you want “cheerleaders” that can think out of the box? When’s the last time you saw a cheerleader that actually did any thinking, Lon? Don’t cheerleaders by definition, learn by watching – and repeat?” Eville Taxpayer

IN RESPONSE TO: SHOW US THE MONEY

“Evansville needs its’ own local version of the show “Shark Tank. We can call it “Carp Tank” Bowhunter72

“Hilarious!! Carp tank, where the people of Evansville go to eat. We could have Gar Tank, Cottonmouth Tank, Turd Tank, and a whole bunch of other delicate things that swim or float.” TheDonald

“Hell, at FDP, with the money it sounds like they are blowing… They might as well be shingling the roofs with laminated $100 bills!” Eville Taxpayer

IN RESPONSE TO: Shutting Down Roberts Stadium on August 3rd

“Weinzapfel and his gang of cronies are at it again backroom deals and misuse of city funds and properties. All of the local polititions that are in on this need to be voted out of office. The good old boys are sounding more and more like the Evansville democratic Mafia.” Rk812

“Until the City’s contract with SMG expires the City must keep Roberts Stadium open or the City could be sued for breach of contract and be liable to pay significant damages (taxes to you and me) for lost revenue to SMG. Breaching the City’s contract with SMG would be even dumber than the City’s handling of the Executive Inn fiasco.” Joe Biden

“There are so many wonderful uses that this venerable, already paid-for, unique building could continue to serve all of Evansville. It would be silly to tear it down until we know that the new Arena actually works…if at all. Those who were upset by the effects of the $17 million dollar soft ball fields should quake at the plan to add 12 new tennis courts (6 outdoor & 6 indoor ones) in the woods themselves. Here we go again w/o any consensus, public input, or an enviromental impact study.“ H. Dan Adams MD

“People on their way out should not determine our future in this regard. I am equally concerned about this idea of new tennis courts in Wesselman’s Park. Once again, the Parks Department is forgeting about the environmental impact on the Nature Preserve.“ Stephanie Brinkerhoff-Riley

“You have to be intelligent to be a crook. These people are not crooks, they are idiots.” TheDonald

“When people complain, the city fathers point to things such as South Bend’s recent designation as an “All American City,” a designation bestowed by judges who haven’t visited.”

Excerpts from the Article:

“the mayor huffed and puffed about the criteria and complained that the magazine relied on preliminary census estimates for its conclusion. When the actual census figures came out a few weeks later, it turned out that the population drop was even more severe than the estimates.”

“It (South Bend) is, however, an excellent case study. Especially when its dismal performance is set against the economic recovery that Gov. Mitch Daniels’s reforms have brought to the rest of the state.”

“Though it’s popular here to blame all its woes on the loss of manufacturing giants such as Studebaker and Bendix, the truth is that the city’s predicament owes more to the bad decisions taken over the years by its political class. After all, Studebaker shut its doors in 1963.”

” Today that same mayor says he has $9.1 million in extra revenue he wants to spend on another round of capital projects. Even the South Bend Tribune found this too much, pleading in an editorial, “Taxpayers, speak up!”

“It’s considered bad form to notice, but one problem might be that South Bend, like at least one of its companions on the dying cities list, Detroit, hasn’t had a Republican mayor for four decades. Yes, there are badly run Republican cities, and well-run Democratic ones. South Bend, however, is a classic Democratic city, with a classic Democratic approach to business. And it shows.”

Link to Complete Article:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304070104576397932583561752.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

IS IT TRUE? PART 2 June 23, 2011

IS IT TRUE that for those of you who are curious about things like public access laws and the Freedom of Information Act that there will be a FREE SEMINAR in Evansville next week?…that this seminar titled “Essentials and Updates of Indiana’s Public Access Laws” will be held on Wednesday June 29, 2011 at the Vanderburgh Central Library at 200 SE Martin Luther King Blvd.?…that you may register for this free event at the following website?

www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/2471.htm.

IS IT TRUE that Greg Wathen, the CEO of the Southwest Indiana Coalition for Economic Development has been on a roll this week?…that yesterday’s announcement that Berry Plastics will be adding 120 jobs over the next 3 years will be followed today with another major announcement for the North Warrick Industrial Park?…that today’s announcement may just involve some good paying opportunities for some skilled local talent?…that when Warrick County gets a project that the entire region wins and that the same is true for Vanderburgh County?…that is why Wathen markets the region to the investment opportunities of the world?

IS IT TRUE that last week’s W. C. Handy Blues Festival in Henderson is not the only major music festival that is being held this summer on the south side of the Ohio River?…that tonight starts the live entertainment portion of the ROMP 2011 Bluegrass Music Festival in Owensboro’s Yellow Creek Park?…that the headline act tonight is a band called Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers?…that this is not the Steve Martin who sells commercial real estate in Evansville?…that this is the funny man from Saturday Night Live who was one “wild and crazy guy” before he went on to make movies and now BLUEGRASS MUSIC?…that this festival will go on for three nights culminating with the lady from Birmingham Emmylou Harris on Saturday night?…that tickets are available at the gate and that details are available online at the following link:

http://www.bluegrass-museum.org/general/romp.php

IS IT TRUE that the following song mixes Bluegrass music and humor and is classic Steve Martin? ENJOY

IS IT TRUE that if you liked the wild and crazy guys that this will make you smile.