IS IT TRUE that the Evansville Parks and Recreation Department has now been exposed for not even keeping any record of complaints that come in from the citizens of Evansville?…that even such public disasters such as a child stepping on a drug addicts needle are not kept in a complaints data base?…that Dan Schall the Director of the Evansville Parks and Recreation Department thinks that a complaint tracking system is not even necessary?…that this is the Mayoral appointment who just a couple of weeks ago was on record as saying that emergency kiosks were not needed on the Greenway jogging trail because people have cell phones they can call 911 with?…that this same City of Evansville department head was dismissive about the exposed fact that random emergency kiosks that were installed as a lifeline for joggers and walkers?…that the #1 Bossman who was appointed by the Mayor seems to believe that having a system to track efficiency, effectivity, and improvement with a system of accountability is not even necessary in the Evansville Parks Department?…that this attitude is not only astonishing to anyone that has ever so much as wanted to lose 10 pounds but that it defies the very tenet of accountability in local government?

IS IT TRUE that without the diligence of people like Dr. Neil Troost, City Councilman Dan Adams, this publication, and a growing army of disgusted citizens that the problems in the parks would not even have been acknowledged by local authorities?…that even though the Mayor’s office is now tracking complaints that come their way and Councilwoman Missy Mosby is “looking into accountability” that they would have continued in their oblivious bliss unless diligent citizens who will not accept “I don’t know and I don’t care” for an answer came along?…that the lack of accountability and the arrogant way that accountability is rejected by a City of Evansville department head just confirms that Evansville seems to be run by rank amateurs when it comes to even knowing the basics of improvement and feedback systems?…that COMPETENCE should be a LITMUS TEST in the upcoming city elections and that having “deer in the headlight” looks from City Council members and oblivious department heads should be a thing of the past after January 1, 2012?

IS IT TRUE that the new CVB director Bob Warren has a refreshing view of how to run another of our public entities that did not seem to have had accountability in their day to day operating plan?…that Mr. Warren is quoted as saying “if it ain’t broke break it” which is the documented philosophy of Intel founder Andy Grove and many other Silicon Valley luminaries?…that is particularly welcome and needed in a city that was treated to the opposite philosophy by the President of the Evansville City Council B. J. Watts when he recently uttered the age old cliché “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”?…that Mr. Warren will find as he settles into this job that there are plenty of things that are BROKE but that plenty of the administrative relics that Evansville seems to cling to that are not technically BROKE but are obsolete and ineffective?…that the City County Observer would like to suggest a new mantra and that Bob Warren sounds like a good guy to put it into action?…that our suggestion is “BREAK EVERYTHING”?… that only a few things that have had the privilege of being under the thumb of the City of Evansville have any value if Evansville is to become WORLD CLASS at anything?

IS IT TRUE that Mr. Warren’s experience with a “good old boy” board of directors in Panama City, Florida should give him a good understanding of how the non-profit and local government has worked in Evansville too?…that in the aftermath of his dismissal in Panama City things ground to a halt and the board was replaced?…that it has been said that the “good old boy” board of directors set Panama City backwards by 5 years by dismissing Mr. Warren?…that from the sound of the interviews that we have read, Panama City should just change its name to “Evansville by the Sea”?

IS IT TRUE that it will take hundreds of people like Bob Warren and Neil Troost to destroy the “good old boy” damage that has been done in Evansville?…that setting things back 50 years would be quite descriptive of the decisions that have emanated from “good old boy” boards and departments here?…that change is finally in the air but that the citizens have to take a breath to feel its effects?…that it is time for the “good old boys” here to be shown the door at every place that they have kept in the dark ages to further personal agendas?

IS IT TRUE that Mr. Warren has the right kind of attitude and experience to make something good happen here?…that we will be pleased with state championships but dreaming of being WORLD CLASS is a good thing? Maybe someday???

IS IT TRUE? June 3-5, 2011 “Evansville as a World-Class Destination”????

IS IT TRUE that Bob Warren, the replacement for Marilee Harris as the Executive Director at the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau made some eyes roll with his statement that Evansville is just a good marketing campaign away from being a “WORLD-CLASS DESTINATION”?…that as much as his enthusiasm is to be admired for his new job, attaining world class status on the banks of the Ohio River here in Evansville is quite a stretch?…that three things that articles on this subject agree on is that world class destinations have recognized world class attractions, world class airports, and five star hotels?…that Evansville is pushing it to even claim to have 3-Star hotels away from Casino Aztar and is currently in a quagmire to find a local contractor the financing to build a 3-Star downtown convention hotel?

IS IT TRUE that job one for Mr. Warren to have any credibility with his forthcoming marketing campaign is to figure out where it is that people who spend money on world class vacations would choose to sleep when they visit?…that such people prefer 5-Star hotels and will occasionally opt for a 4-Star property if the quality is really up there?…that we not only do not have these things but we no longer have any plan to get one?…that Casino Aztar would not be a frequent choice for vacationing families so scratch upgrading Le Merigot with a family friendly pool and spa to get that 4th Star?…that this is a big obstacle to overcome in the quest to become recognized by outsiders as a world class tourist destination?

IS IT TRUE that the second thing that makes a city a world class tourist destination is having world class attractions and activities?…that things in America that many people from Evansville have travelled to experience that are universally recognized as world class are the Disney Parks, Sea World, Navy Pier, Times Square, the Smithsonian, Universal Studios, the Getty Museum, the San Diego and St. Louis Zoos, Las Vegas, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium?…that natural world class attractions in America are things like the Grand Canyon, the Tetons, Yosemite, the Rocky Mountains, Waikiki Beach, and Yellowstone?…that among American cites the list that makes the top of World Class Tourist Destinations are New York City, Orlando, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Antonio, Boston, Chicago, and Washington DC?…that all world class destinations have world class air service and that we are saying no more about that in this IS IT TRUE?

IS IT TRUE that in a survey of what attracts people to Evansville today the leading vote getters are in order from top to bottom Casino Aztar (40%), Festivals (17%), shopping on the Eastside (12%), sporting events (11%), universities (10%), restaurants (3%) , the LST (3%), and museums (0%)?…that we assume that festivals means the Fall Festival?…that of the things on that list only the LST and the Fall Festival are unique to Evansville?…that world class also comes with that distinction of uniqueness and that those are the only things that we currently have to build on?…that we are nationally recognized with number one rankings in only two things and that those things are suicide and obesity?…that these are not things that we recommend for the marketing campaign?…that they do show up fairly early in a Google search?

IS IT TRUE that we truly wish good fortune and success to Mr. Warren?…that we will be pleased and praise him if his efforts lead to an Evansville that can actually keep the people that live here from travelling to other regional cities for festivals, sports, museums, shopping, restaurants, and live entertainment?…that it will take a Herculean effort on his part to accomplish the simple goal of being a REGIONAL CLASS TOURIST DESTINATION?

BOB DYLAN And His Band

In Show and Concert!

One Night Only!
August 2, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
Roberts Stadium – Evansville, IN

TICKETS ON-SALE THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 17th AT 10:00AM

Tickets ($25/$45/$55) will be available at Roberts Stadium Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations and charge by phone 800/745-3000 and online at

www.ticketmaster.com.

Produced by Outback Concerts and Jam Productions

www.bobdylan.com

Former Candidate for President will have to answer charges of Violations of Campaign Finance Laws

A federal grand jury indicted two-time presidential candidate John Edwards following a two-year investigation into money used to cover up an extramarital affair during the 2008 election.

Below is a link to the WSJ article with more details and below that is an absolutely hilarious video of then candidate Edwards primping his hair to the Julie Andrews song “I Feel Pretty”.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303657404576363242298390826.html?mod=djemalertNEWS

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer has discussed the scheme being used with the Front Door Pride program where new houses are held by Hope of Evansville, a 501c-3 non-profit during the time that the properties are being built and a buyer is being sought?…that by doing this the tax liability is eliminated not only during the holding period but that it takes the assessment and taxation processes followed in the State of Indiana up to two years to get these properties back onto the tax rolls?…that this little scheme allows buyers of these homes to benefit financially by paying ZERO real estate taxes for either three or four payment periods depending on the timing of their purchase?…that what is good for one 501c-3 should be good for another 501c-3?…that begs the question “What About Habitat for Humanity”?

IS IT TRUE that Habitat for Humanity is a Christian based national non-profit organization that has been granted 501c-3 status by the IRS?…that there are local affiliates all over the country that are formed the same way and that according to the audited financial statement of Habitat for Humanity of Evansville that they are also have been granted 501c-3 non-profit status by the IRS?…that Habitat for Humanity of Evansville is a very transparent organization that has helped many local families attain the American dream of home ownership?…that these families are all required to invest at least 300 hours of sweat equity into their homes and to pay for them in full over a 25 year period?…that Habitat for Humanity is a “hand up” organization as opposed to a “hand out” organization?…that the City County Observer became curious yesterday after several Front Door Pride discussions about whether or not Habitat was being granted special deductions under the category of “other” during the holding period making the transfer to their buyers tax free for two years too?

IS IT TRUE that the Vanderburgh County Assessor’s website comes back with 97 properties when queried with the owner name “Habitat for Humanity”?…that a cursory look through the 10 pages of results show a large number of homes and maybe 10% – 20% empty lots titled under ownership by Habitat for Humanity?…that our particular areas of interest are the deductions for taxes and the cap rates associated with the taxation?…that going into this our expectation is that this 501c-3 will be paying no taxes through the same preferential treatment that is granted to Hope of Evansville for the 6 Front Door Pride homes that it is the holding company for?…that the first set of results chosen randomly are as follows:

IS IT TRUE that the home located at 1680 Elliot Street and owned by Habitat is assessed at $28,200?…that there are exactly ZERO deductions of any kind granted to this property?…that the tax cap is set at 2% which is the appropriate tax cap for a for-profit rental property?…that the gross tax liability is $777.28 but that due to the 2% cap the tax liability is capped at $570.82?…that the taxes are current?

IS IT TRUE that the home located at 507 East Riverside and owned by Habitat is assessed at $26,200?…that there are exactly ZERO deductions of any kind granted to this property?…that the tax cap is set at 2% which is the appropriate tax cap for a for-profit rental property?…that the gross tax liability is $722.16 but that due to the 2% cap the tax liability is capped at $530.34?…that the taxes are current?

IS IT TRUE that the home located at 1726 South Morton and owned by Habitat is assessed at $64,800?…that there are exactly ZERO deductions of any kind granted to this property?…that the tax cap is set at 2% which is the appropriate tax cap for a for-profit rental property?…that the gross tax liability is $1,816.40 but that due to the 2% cap the tax liability is capped at $1,342.00?…that the taxes are current?…that this house sold $19,400 in 2006, $40,000 in 2009, and then for $7,000 in January of 2011 but is assessed at $64,800?…that we wonder how that constitutional mandate for market value assessment was applied to this property?...that the current and past Vanderburgh County Assessors have some explaining to do on this one?

IS IT TRUE that we have looked at other properties and have not yet found even one case where a special deduction has been granted to Habitat for Humanity?…that it certainly appears as though that equal protection under the law that we all take for granted is not being followed in Evansville when it comes to taxation?…that for one 501c-3 to get a free ride that gets passed on to a buyer and for another one to be treated like a for profit rental real estate company really begs the question “WHY”?

IS IT TRUE that the sources we used to gather this data are the Vanderburgh County Assessors website, the Habitat for Humanity website, and the links to the tax bills for the properties that we have profiled?

IS IT TRUE that Vince Bertram the superintendent of the EVSC is not the only local superintendent in the Evansville area that has resigned to move up the ladder of success elsewhere?…that Joshua Powell who has served as the superintendent of the Union County, KY school system for three years has also caught the eye of another district?…that Mr. Powell is thought to have done a great job in Union County and has presided over an improvement in academic achievement?…that Evansville and the surrounding region seems to be a perpetual revolving door for public professionals?…that while Dr. Bertram is going to a national program called Project Lead the Way, Mr. Powell’s destination holds many lessons to be learned by all of the local school boards, local government, and local non-profit entities?

IS IT TRUE that Mr. Powell will be moving to become the superintendent of the Montgomery County, KY school system in the Appalachian foothills?…that his new district has one high school, one middle school, three elementary schools, and a couple of specialty programs?…that Montgomery County High School has 1,200 students and that the entire district has only 4,885 students?…that this is slightly larger than Union County but only a small fraction (21.7%) of the enrollment of EVSC?…that the largest city in Montgomery County is Mount Sterling with a population of 7,057 while the entire county is home to only 25,835 souls?…that one would expect that the superintendent of EVSC with literally 361% more students and similarly more staff, budget etc. would be a much higher paid position than the same position in Montgomery County?…that you will be SURPRISED?

IS IT TRUE that the Courier & Press last December reported Dr. Bertram’s salary as $166,875 and that there has been on spat after another over increases and contractual bonuses since he was attracted to Evansville four years ago?…that Mr. Powell will be earning a base salary of $140,000 with a guaranteed package of $155,800 to head the much smaller Montgomery County school system?…that Mount Sterling, KY has a lower cost of living than Evansville so that these salaries are equivalent?…that for a district with the complexity, urban issues, and 361% larger enrollment to offer equivalent or even lower compensation than an Appalachian school system is self defeating for the EVSC?

IS IT TRUE that Mount Sterling, KY grew in population by 20% during the last decade while Evansville continued to see its population shrink?…that insufficient compensation and limited opportunities are one of the main reasons that people are leaving?…that if seeing an Appalachian town beat the tar out of Evansville does not open some people’s eyes around here that one must wonder just what it is going to take?

IS IT TRUE that it was recently opined by a member of the Evansville Vanderburgh school board that the outside candidate pool to replace Dr. Bertram would be “thin”?…that the response to that considering the uncompetitive level of the salary history and the acidic tone of the community with respect to compensation is to be expected?…that the board members of Evansville’s public and non-profit entities need to go to some training on how things are done and compensated in the growing parts of this country?…that this area is not even close to the reality of what is going on in the growing areas of America when it comes to attracting talent?

IS IT TRUE that the shelves of local government are filled with very good plans written by $300 per hour consultants and talent that passes through on occasion?…that paying for great plans and then trying to hire people to execute these plans for substandard wages NEVER EVER WORKS?…that without the right talent in place to execute plans then these plans were a waste in the first place?…that Evansville has historically had a problem with execution?…that right now Evansville does not even have a master plan that shows an arena at the corner of Main and MLK?…that it really does not matter if we as a community are unwilling to pay a wage that will attract world class talent to execute a plan and appropriate the funds to pay for it?

IS IT TRUE? June 2, 2011 Special Evening Edition

IS IT TRUE that it was reported today that Casino Aztar is embarking upon $7 Million worth of repairs and renovations that are designed to make the gambling experience more pleasurable?…that among these renovations are replacing carpeting that is way overdue for replacement, fixing some HVAC equipment that was probably overcome by smoke and of course the previously mentioned $3 Million skybridge?…that each of these things will legitimately improve the experience of going to Aztar to gamble or cross the street?…that the Courier & Press today quoted Mayor Weinzapfel as stating that these improvements were required in trade for the City of Evansville offering support for Aztar to “get their license” back?…that the article went on to say that Aztar was required to “embark on good faith negotiations” with respect to the naming of the new downtown Arena?

IS IT TRUE that Aztar is a private business that must have a license granted by the State of Indiana to operate a casino?…that things like carpets and HVAC equipment if covered at all by local ordinance are enforced by the Office of Building Codes?…that to require a private business to negotiate for naming rights on a facility that they have no financial interest in to “get a license” seems a bit bold and outside of the realm of mayoral authority?…that many businesses would have told our Mayor to go jump in the Ohio River?…that the City of Evansville needed Aztar to continue to operate just as much as Aztar needed the license?…that obtaining money for naming rights through the exercise of the authority of elected office is certainly not something for code enforcement to get involved in?…that this action while possibly effective may not send the right message to other businesses in Evansville or thinking of Evansville as a potential destination?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer would like to welcome the new Bossman of the Evansville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to town and apologize that we were unable to attend the press conference held in his honor this morning?…that we wish Mr. Bob Warren much success in his new position?…that even though he is a happy guy today and is talking about telling the world about Evansville being a “world class destination” we will be happy for it to just be recognized as a tourist destination period?…that Orlando, San Francisco, New York City, Paris, and Las Vegas are world class destinations?…that we will settle to be thought of in the same breath as places like Branson, Louisville, Nashville, and Holiday World?…that it is admirable to set the bar up at Olympic levels but that Evansville will embrace and support this man if he can bring home a few state championships in the tourism department?

IS IT TRUE that some of our baseball loving friends are carping about our Evansville Otters starting the season off with a 1 win and 10 loss record?…that it is a good thing that the Bosse Field experience is not dependent upon excellence on the field of play or the seats would be empty?…that whatever team and whatever league that seems to inhabit Bosse Field always draws a decent crowd because the old baseball stadium experience and the cheap beer keep us entertained?…that we do encourage the Otters ownership to do something about the talent level that we seem to attract?…that Evansville is one of the larger and even richer cities in the Frontier league and that being the perpetual last place doormat should not be the case?…that the song says “root, root, root for the home team, if they don’t win it is a shame”?…that a 1 – 10 start for the Otters from a performance perspective is a shame?…that we will go anyway because it is fun?…that we would go more often if the Otters were contenders?

IS IT TRUE that our article yesterday regarding the tax liability of ZERO for one Front Door Pride house inspired comments and elicited several direct responses?…that one of these responses was from the Deputy Treasurer of Vanderburgh County who proceeded to explain to us exactly how such a thing happens?…that this is a clever scheme that that begs for answers?…that the explanation that we received is believed to be legal but does show favoritism?…that just two weeks ago that the City County Observer submitted a word to both the Webster’s Dictionary and the Urban Dictionary?…that the word is SNEGAL and is defined as “SNEAKY BUT LEGAL”?… that SCHEMES like the one that takes residential properties off of the tax roles for a couple of years in a LEGAL way are the reason the word SNEGAL will be a part of the English language in the near future?

IS IT TRUE that the buyers of the Front Door Pride homes are not a part of the SCHEME and are in many cases not even aware of the favoritism that is awarded to them?…that the buyers of these homes are innocent as sheep when it comes to taxation of their property?…that the following is a narrative of how this little SCHEME works?

IS IT TRUE that the first step of this scheme starts when the City of Evansville or any city for that matter acquires a property that is zoned residential?…that the second step in the scheme is to TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OF A PROPERTY TO A 501-C3 NON-PROFIT?…that the third step of this scheme happens when the 501c-3 non-profit is granted an exemption in the amount of the previous assessment under the “other” category?…that in the case of the Front Door Pride program that the entity that is used to hold the properties is called Hope of Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that step four of this scheme is to construct a new dwelling on the property and place it on the market?…that pricing does not matter to this scenario?…that the next step is to wait for a buyer?…that if a buyer is never found that these properties are permanently off of the tax rolls?…that the time to find a buyer is currently about a year during which time there are no taxes paid on these homes?…that when a buyer is found the clock starts for going back onto the tax rolls?

IS IT TRUE that the property taxation system in Indiana has a time lag of between 18 and 24 months to catch up to a transaction?…that is why the taxes that were just paid were the 2010 taxes that were due in 2011?…that those taxes are usually based on assessment that happened in 2009?…that in the case of a property that was held in a 501c-3 non-profit that is transferred to private ownership that the ZERO tax obligation does not change until the roughly the first May 10th, following the second March after closing the transaction?…that the buyers of the Front Door Pride Homes that were held by Hope of Evansville inherit at least 3 and in special cases 4 tax payment cycles with ZERO tax liability due to the time it takes to a) remove the full assessment exemption, and b) reach the time when a year has passed when taxes are actually due?…that if you or I were to purchase one of the six Phase 2 FDP homes that are currently on the market today that the first date that we would be getting a real tax bill based on the sale price of the house will be due May 10, 2013?…that to enact and embrace a system that is this inefficient and preferentially benefits a select few is just asinine and needs to be changed so that it is fair to all Hoosiers?

IS IT TRUE that this convoluted system actually works as it was designed but that it has serious design flaws?…that simply changing assessments immediately upon sale is one step to eliminate part of this loophole?…that immediate elimination of all 501-c3 based exemptions upon sale will cut a year off of the time lag that is inherent in our system of taxation?…that this system is SNEGAL but is not SNEGAL on the part of any buyer?…that the SNEGALITY that deserves some examination lies in the basis for transferring the property to a 501c-3 in the first place and in the complacency with the removal of the exemptions granted that were based solely on the fact that a 501c-3 non-profit organization was used to hold the property?

IS IT TRUE that Casino Aztar has announced plans to make a few improvements to their property including replacing some totally worn out carpet, improving the ventilation, and adding a skywalk across Riverside Drive to connect Le Merigot to the Casino?…that the skywalk budget is $3 Million?…that the planners for the skywalk system that will need to be put into place to connect the Hotel, Centre, and Arena over at the MLK Entertainment Complex should take note of that price and budget for a similar amount?…that the City County Observer predicted a $3 Million price for a skywalk at the MLK Entertainment Complex last August?…that some of the internal management rumblings at the time were spewing numbers as low as $300,000?…that Fort Wayne spent $3 Million for a skywalk, Aztar is spending $3 Million for a skywalk, and that the Arena will have to do the same?…that is unless that do some Rube Goldberg imitation of a classy skywalk to connect the three structures as they should be connected?…that we wonder what line item in the Arena budget that the $3 Million for the skywalk will be coming from?

IS IT TRUE that the first deadline to find financing for the Hyatt Place hotel came and went on May 31st and that no financing has been secured?…that the expected valuation of the completed product has not increased from the $18 Million – $20 Million figure that the City County Observer published in August of last year?…that commercial real estate has actually fallen in value since that time?…that the banking community has not eased their lending standards since then with respect to collateral requirements?…that in a world that expects to see 30% – 50% in equity taken up front the conventional loan limits for this venture will be in the range of $9 Million – $14 Million?…that with an overall construction cost (including skywalk, parking, restaurant, etc.) of something like $32 Million that a gap of between $18 Million and $23 Million still exists?…that the money in the gap with either have to be contributed as paid in equity by the developer and investors, financial incentives, or loan guarantees?

IS IT TRUE that John Kish has finally gone on record about the level of difficulty that the financing of a hotel deal in downtown Evansville will be?…that in 2007 that Mayor Weinzapfel was all smiles with the news of a 4-Star hotel fully financed deal with no public money needed?…that in 2010 all were confident that financing a deal with Browning would be secured until it wasn’t?…that when the RFP went out in the fall of 2010 it did not have an adequate vetting process to assure that the eventual developer would be committed to perform?…that when the internal change of control of Woodruff Hospitality LLC occurred this spring that the representatives of the City of Evansville were still confident that financing would be secured?…that yesterday after the first contractual milestone was missed that confidence is still asserted by the same Mr. Kish?…that if confidence built hotels that Evansville would already have three new ones under construction?

IS IT TRUE that maybe just maybe yesterday’s realizations will smash the rose colored glasses once and for all?…that there is one way to assure that this hotel is financed and that all of the parties involved should have known it for 4 years now?…that the valuations and collateralization ratios have not changed materially since that 2007 day when the Mayor was announcing what turned out to be a pie in the skywalk dream?…that when Junior wants to buy a car by borrowing more money than the car is worth, that the only way for Junior to do so is if Daddy guarantees the note?…that we trust that all of our readers are astute enough to understand that metaphor?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer is unwavering in support of the need for the downtown convention hotel and that we welcome the acknowledgement of the financial reality that faces this development?…we as a community are too far into this whole MLK Entertainment Complex project to hobble it now by not finding a way to get a hotel in there by whatever means is necessary?…that TIME IS NOW OF THE ESSENCE?

Lloyd Winnecke, Republican candidate for Mayor of Evansville released a jobs plan today that essentially returns to the fundamentals of economic development that Gage and the Coalition for Economic Development were founded in in 2007.

In his plan Winnecke refers to leveraging the technology transfer agreement that was signed between Gage and the Crane Navsea back in 2008 and to returning to getting to know local businesses that was also established by Gage under the name EnGage in 2007. The plan also calls for returning to the basics of promoting entrepreneurship that was the fundamental tenant in establishing Innovation Pointe.

The entire plan is available on the link below.

Winnecke-Jobs-Plan