EPD Activity Report March 29 2011

IS IT TRUE? March 30, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the US Census Bureau has just released the new location of the median center of the population of the United States based on the 2010 census?…that this location is the intersection of two thin lines on a map and is the point where half of the people of the country live to the north, half to the south, half to the east, and half to the west?…that this new location is in a cornfield on a family farm in Pike County, Indiana?…that the migration of this point is a good indicator of which parts of the country are growing the fastest?…that if growth patterns continue at the same rates as they have for the last 50 years that in 2020 this distinction will be near New Harmony and by 2030 will be near Harrisburg, Illinois?

IS IT TRUE that local legend says that Evansville is in the ideal location for logistics due to the fact that it is the closest city to the median center of population?…that one would intuitively think that would have some value that could be commercialized?…that we do not seem to be doing so?…that the big logistical centers in America that have materialized during the last 50 years are all based on AIRPORTS?…that FedEx chose Memphis and UPS chose Louisville to capitalize on their locations?…that rather than being the closest city to the median center of the population the attribute that can be commercialized is being the closest city with the infrastructure to support a logistics center?…that without an AIRPORT that can handle the traffic the distinction of being the closest city to the population center of the United States is simply a statistic on a brochure about the City of Evansville?…that in 50 years at present growth rates the center of population will be near Bentonville, Arkansas the corporate headquarters of WalMart?…that this fleeting and moving opportunity will have passed by Evansville if something is not done in the next 20 years to capitalize upon it?…that the following link has a really nice animation showing just how rapidly this is passing Evansville by?

http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/Median_Center_1.html

IS IT TRUE that the parking garage for the Executive Inn has a new date with the wrecking ball?…that the new date to start the demolition is April 12th?…that the City County Observer supports Woodruff Hospitality and wish them no more delays or unwelcomed surprises in their efforts to develop a the new Hyatt Place Convention hotel?…that we do not believe that the demolition of the Executive Inn parking garage with adversely affect the parking situation in downtown Evansville?…that Woodruff will be constructing an underground parking structure that will replace the parking that is being lost due to demolishing the parking garage?…that if parking was a problem before it still will be a problem and that if parking was a piece of cake before it still will be?…that the number of parking spaces within a reasonable walk of the new Arena exceeds the number of parking spaces in the Roberts Stadium parking lot?…that with the sole exception of the “Back 40” that the downtown spaces are and will be harder to find?…that the ease of parking for the events at the new Arena will be completely dependent on the communication system that will hopefully be put into place as part of the Arena project?…that this will be frustrating and will take some learning on the part of the attendees but that the spaces are definitely there?

IS IT TRUE that the Executive Inn itself has been out of the limelight and off of peoples radar for a while now?…that darn eyesore still has to come down too?…that it would have been prudent to have the April 12th demolition include both structures?…that we are quite curious to know when the fleabag Executive Inn will have its second date with the wrecking ball?…that we also are curious about the bidding process for the demolition of the Executive Inn?…that we would like to know who the bidders were and what the bids happened to be?

There are Plenty of Issues that have not been addressed

On Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at 5:30 p.m., local time, in Room 301, Civic Center Complex, 1 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Evansville, Indiana, the Vanderburgh County Commissioners and the Evansville City Council will open their hearing of the city-county plan of reorganized government to the people for our comments. And that is a good thing, because the plan has many details that the people may find a bit disconcerting.

First of all, government always should be accountable to the people, and no plan of government reorganization should place the people it governs into a defensive position. But this plan of local government does in several ways place the burden of proof upon the people it proposes to govern, and that is just plain wrong.

For example, the reorganization plan proposes an urban services district comprising the geographic area currently lying within the boundaries of the City of Evansville. The urban services district will receive the regular municipal services now enjoyed by city residents such as street lighting, trash collection, recycling (although not mentioned in the plan), public transportation, city fire department protection, street cleaning, and the other public services not regularly enjoyed by residents of the unincorporated county. The remaining territory in the county outside the current city limits will comprise a general services district whose property owners will continue to receive and pay for the lower level of services now enjoyed by residents of the unincorporated municipality.

While all this at first may sound fine and simple, since the most residents of the unincorporated county willingly and knowingly bought into their suburban residency and lifestyle, the hard truth of the plan hides behind this simplicity. And that is because the plan devises a simplistic method for expanding the urban services district in the future. The plan simply says that when an annual review of provided services determines that a geographic area in the general services district has requested or received taxed based services normally provided in the urban services district, that area will be converted into the urban services district the following year. Mind the words now. The plan does not specify which or how many “tax based services” must be requested or received. So, does that mean the municipality can extend bus service up U.S. 41 to Ameriqual, then incorporate all land between Dress Regional Airport and Cambridge Golf Community into the urban services district?

In other words and furthermore, it appears from reading the plan that after only one public hearing, the common council might annex any area of the general services district into the urban services district and begin collecting the higher tax rate on all property within the area annexed by this far too simple method.

Why should the people oppose such a simplified method of annexation? Simply because it removes the burden of proof from the government and places it squarely and wholly upon the backs of the people it governs. For proof of my premise, let us compare the reorganization plan’s proposed method of land grabbing with the current requirements for municipal annexation of territory under state statute.

First of all, when expanding its jurisdiction under state law, a city may annex territory only if at least one-eighth (1/8) of the aggregate external boundaries of the territory coincide with the boundaries of the annexing municipality. Under the proposed plan, there is not even a mention of contiguous territory, much less to the extent of one-eighth boundary length.

Secondly, under current state law, a municipality may not annex territory that is inside the corporate boundaries of another municipality. But the reorganization plan does not explicitly exclude the possibility of future incorporation of the Town of Darmstadt into the urban services district.

Next issue: before a municipality may annex territory under current law, the municipality must provide written notice of a public hearing via certified mail to each owner of real property, as shown on the county auditor’s current tax list, whose real property is located within the territory proposed to be annexed. The notice must include specific content, including but not limited to a detailed summary of the fiscal plan, the location where the public may inspect a copy of the fiscal plan, and the name and telephone number of a representative of the municipality who may be contacted for further information regarding the fiscal plan. The reorganization plan does not recognize these standard conventions.

There are certain time constraints under state law as to how far in advance of the hearing the municipality must notify property owners, and how soon after the hearing the common council may proceed with annexation. The reorganization plan completely ignores these courtesies as well.

Also, when annexing territory, the municipality’s fiscal plan must include specific provisions, including but not limited to the following:
· Proof that the resident population density of the territory sought to be annexed is at least three (3) persons per acre, that sixty percent (60%) of the territory is subdivided, or that the territory is zoned for commercial, business, or industrial uses. Under the plan of reorganization, no population density is considered with regard to expanding the urban services district, nor are there any other parameters set out regarding acreage under residential subdivision or commercial development.
· Cost estimates of planned services to be furnished to the annexed territory including itemized estimated costs for each municipal department or agency. The reorganization plan does not even specify the exact services or how many of the normal services must be extended prior to expanding the urban services district.

The methods of financing the planned services with an explanation specifying details of funding with specific taxes, grants, or other funding to be used. The reorganization plan does not identify anything other than the higher tax rate that will be imposed on the territory taken into the urban services district.
· The plan for the organization and extension of specific services that will be provided and the dates the services will begin. Again, the plan does not specify which or how many of the services must be extended before imposing annexation into the urban services district.

· That planned services of a noncapital nature, including police protection, fire protection, street and road maintenance, and other noncapital services normally provided within the corporate boundaries will be provided to the annexed territory within one (1) year after the effective date of annexation and that they will be provided in a manner equivalent in standard and scope to those noncapital services provided to areas within the corporate boundaries regardless of similar topography, patterns of land use, and population density. The reorganization plan not only does not specify exactly which services must be provided, but gives no time limit for their provision.

· That services of a capital improvement nature, including street construction, street lighting, sewer facilities, water facilities, and storm water drainage facilities, specific will be provided to the annexed territory within three (3) years after the effective date of the annexation in the same manner as those services are provided to areas within the corporate boundaries, regardless of similar topography, patterns of land use, and population density, and in a manner consistent with federal, state, and local laws, procedures, and planning criteria. The plan does not specify that city street and sidewalk standards will become effective in the newly incorporated urban services district, does not provide for street lighting except on a “fee for services basis” only, and does not address the storm water drainage facility services that city residents enjoy compared to those in the unincorporated county.

No, all the reorganization plan says about expanding the urban services is that “when a geographic area in the General Services District requests and/or receives tax-based services provided in the Urban Services District, that geographic area will be converted to the Urban Services District or a Special Services District, with the accompanying change to that taxing district’s rate.”

Lastly, under current state law, a remonstrance against annexation may be initiated by 65% of the owners of land in the annexation area, or by owners of more than 75% of the assessed valuation of the land in the territory proposed to be annexed who allege that adequate fire and police protection already is provided by someone other than the municipality seeking to annex the territory. And state law provides for “disannexation” in certain situations where the municipality fails to follow the rules. The reorganization plan fails to provide the people with these same rights.

So, my complaint and my comment remains, “the reorganization plan places the burden of proof upon the people it will govern,” and does will not require the government practice due diligence when expanding its jurisdiction and taxing authority. And that is just plain wrong.

Scaling to Evansville size would call for a similar effort to increase by 11,700

In May, 2010, a public-private partnership was formed to increase the number of Louisville residents with college degrees. Not only did it bring all the community’s major players to the table — including the business community through GLI and the city through Metro Government — it involved primary, secondary, and post-secondary education leaders from public and private schools too.

Its aim? To increase the number of people with bachelor’s degrees by 40,000 and the number with associate degrees by 15,000. (So if you studied math, logic, and rhetoric, you’ll appreciate why the program is titled “55,000 Degrees.”)

As deep as a Doctor of Philosophy and as diverse as a 400-level course on Multicultural Cat-Herding
55,000 Degrees has a clear and compelling agenda — to increase education attainment, prosperity, and the quality of life — but it draws its necessity and support from a broad spectrum of needs, goals, and criteria:
To attract new and develop local business, we need to provide access to a readily available pool of educated, talented, and capable workers.

People with college degrees make considerably more than those with high school diplomas. The U.S. Census Bureau puts the average lifetime earnings of a person with a bachelor’s degree at $2.7 million compared to just $1.5 million for someone with a high school diploma.

More college graduates translates into more community wealth through more tax revenues, retail purchases, and contributions to charities.

So far over $1 million has been raised from local foundations over the start-up three years, including support from the James Graham Brown Foundation, the Humana Foundation, the C.E.&S Foundation, the Community Foundation of Louisville, and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation.

In addition, one partner, Greater Louisville Inc, recently received an $800,000 grant from the Indianapolis-based Lumina Foundation to address one of the key objectives of the partnership — which is to support businesses helping working-age adults finish their degrees.

Evansville needs to focus on what attracts people! Hint: It is not bricks and mortar

Today, the New York Times published a series of papers by recognized economic development experts on the phenomena of shrinking cities. Of course the cities of discussion were the usual suspects of Detroit, Cleveland, Youngstown, Dayton, and other places that peaked in population in the 1950’s and have experienced continuous declines since then. Evansville did merit mention in the New York Times but the topic is close to home and the percentages of shrinkage of population in Evansville are comparable to many of the cities being discussed. Of course Detroit is the poster child for urban failure and is currently being seriously considered to be beyond saving.

The American Midwest is strewn with shrinking cities and Evansville is just one of many that were designated as “Forgotten Cities” by MIT in a study of cities that have essentially become obsolete. The solutions and comments in the series of papers are as applicable to Evansville as they are to Detroit and Cleveland. The state of shrinkage that Evansville finds itself in is to a large extent for the same reasons that Detroit and its cohorts have been hemorrhaging people.

Here are some excerpts from the papers. We encourage those who are interested or in responsible positions to click on the link and read the entire contents.

“Can anyone point to one city, just one, where any of these ‘renewal’ schemes have worked to regenerate, rather than further erode, a city? Just one. Needless to say, there aren’t any. The record of schemes to revive cities by assembling and remaking neighborhoods is littered with disastrous unintended consequences. People thrown of out their homes, neighborhoods destroyed, historic structures leveled, and the community fabric of too many once great cities ripped to shreds.” Richard Florida

“With the release last week of the 2010 Census figures recording Detroit’s population down 25 percent to 713,777 residents, I have been quite amazed to hear people, including prominent economists and even one of my students, say — out loud — Detroit cannot be saved!” Toni L. Griffin

“In this vein, declining cities must first and foremost go back to basic policy framework that focuses on people, not bricks and mortar. They should ensure their neighborhoods are safe, cut the costs of doing (and opening) businesses, ensure access to quality elementary and secondary education, provide transparency in government spending and programs and maximize the value of their existing physical infrastructure.” Sam Staley

“Sometimes when you find “shrinking cities,” you find growing — and even economically vibrant — regions.” Brad Whitehead

“History is full of examples of shrinking cities — from collapsed empires to abandoned rural towns that failed to maintain adequate infrastructure, diversify their economy or adjust to changing demographics.” Ellen Dunham-Jones

Link to New York Times Discussion
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/03/28/the-incredible-shrinking-city?hp

Link to MIT Study on Forgotten Cities
http://web.mit.edu/dusp/dusp_extension_unsec/people/faculty/lhoyt/Hoyt_Leroux_FC.pdf

Evansville Police Department Activity Report: March 28, 2011

EPD Activity Report March 28 2011

IS IT TRUE? March 29, 2011

IS IT TRUE that yesterday we brought up the topic of big agenda driven by big money folks like George Soros and the Koch Brothers being refreshingly absent from the coffers of Evansville’s candidates for the eleven City of Evansville offices that are up for grabs this year?…that we still believe that Soros bucks and Koch Brother bucks are not a factor here?…that has not always been the case?…that if one Google’s the term Weinzapfel+Soros that one Jonathan David Weinzapfel shows up on the list of recipients of political contributions from Mr. George Soros and various other people of the last name Soros all associated with George?…that maybe some of Mr. Soros’s money is sitting on the sideline in Evansville and looking for an agenda to support after all?

IS IT TRUE that thirteen donuts or other confectionary items is called a baker’s dozen?…that the root of that is from 13th century England when King Henry III made it a crime to cheat someone out of bread?…that the punishment for shortchanging someone in a bread transaction in those days was removal of the offending hand with an axe?…that the MAYOR”S DOZEN aka THE CONSOLIDATION COMMITTEE will have the second of what promises to be a multitude of public meetings to discuss the contents of their plan to consolidate the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County?…that in the first meeting we were treated to answer after answer stating that certain issues were not considered because “Evansville hates change”?…that the only thing we know for sure from this plan is that the MAYOR’S DOZEN does not like change and had no intention of proposing any substantial changes?…that B. J. Watts the President of the Evansville City Council even uttered the old cliché’ “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” during the first meeting?…that the real problem is that many things in Evansville like our parks, our sewers, local government priorities, local government’s sense of the value of a dollar, and our policies toward litter and snow removal are BROKE and are in serious need of some FIXING?

IS IT TRUE that rather than present a plan that has no substantial changes on the basis that “Evansville hates change”, why did the MAYOR’S DOZEN not propose some real changes that have a high probability of creating some real positive impact on all of Vanderburgh County?…that the people of Evansville may just surprise allot of people if some real common sense changes were proposed by voting yes?…that moving the boundaries, eliminating a few elected officials, and giving the Mayor a raise is not really any change at all?…that the powers that be need put their TOM TERIFFIC thinking caps on and do what the Reverend Adrian Brooks admonished them to do in the first meeting and “satisfy your constituency with your creativity”?…that the MAYOR’S DOZEN has presented a plan that reflects talent in the management of the merging of two governments but no creative problem solving to make the merger accretive to both the city and county dwellers?…that it is the act of creative problem solving that makes a profound positive difference in every endeavor whether public or private?…that the powers that be need to get busy and put some creative problem solver types into this process if there is to be any shred of probability that consolidation will pass in November of 2012?

IS IT TRUE that the next hearing at 5:30 p.m. March 30 in Room 301 of the Civic Center on Wednesday night?…that the hearing will be televised live on WNIN?…that Mayoral Candidate and President of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners Lloyd Winnecke has stated that he is prepared to keep this meeting going well into the night?…that this is reminiscent of the Roberts Stadium ballfields meeting that went on until after midnight?…that if it takes long meeting to hold real discussions and to reach the correct conclusions the City County Observer says “let the marathon meetings continue”?

IS IT TRUE that the wayward Democrats have returned to the Indiana House of Representatives?…that the Pied Piper Pat Bauer has claimed VICTORY for the Democrats month long trip into the State of Illinois to avoid pending votes?…that he seems to have gotten at least part of what he wanted?…that we shall see the price that is paid by the followers of the Pied Piper in November of 2012?…that while the Pied Piper may keep his lifetime job many of the perfectly good legislators who follow the former speaker in his run for the border shall lose their jobs for their flight?

EPD Activity Report Link.

EPD Activity Report March 27 2011

IS IT TRUE? March 28, 2011

IS IT TRUE that we have been notified by a supporter of B. J. Watts and Missy Mosby that they have also had signs go missing?…that this person who notified us seemed a bit perturbed that the City County Observer had not expressed disappointment that this had happened?…that some of the language in the notification was not all that nice and implied that we are biased?…that we rely on reports from outsiders to alert us to such mischief to be able to report it?…that we abhor the practice of stealing and destroying campaign signs that have been bought and paid for by contributions from campaign supporters?…that the City County Observer is opposed to the stealing of campaign signs with the name of any and all candidates on them that have been purchased with the contributions of working people?…that it is our belief that any sign seen in Evansville with the name of Missy Mosby or B. J. Watts was bought with contributions of everyday working people and should never be stolen or destroyed?…that we do not think that any candidate having their car or truck egged is appropriate either?…that the City County Observer advocates for free and honest elections that are without malicious distractions?

IS IT TRUE that thus far there is no big agenda driven money like money from George Soros or the Koch Brothers that we know of to have found its way into the coffers of any current local candidate?…that targeted contributions from agenda pushing billionaires corrupt the political process?…that it is refreshing to be small enough to be off of the radar screens of agenda pushers who try to buy elections with signs, billboards, and TV advertising?…that local races are best when they are funded by local dollars?…that if one of the big agenda pushers made a massive contribution to a local campaign that gave a certain candidate a decided advantage we may have to rethink our position on sign snatching?

IS IT TRUE that the FINAL FOUR is now set and that there are two big surprises playing each other for the right to play for the NCAA Championship?…that Indiana’s own Butler Bulldogs are back to the FINAL FOUR for the second year in a row?…that Butler is a private liberal arts college with an undergraduate enrollment of just over 4,000 students and an incoming freshman class that has a GPA of 3.69 on a scale of 4.0?…that Butler’s opponent in the national semifinal will be Virginia Commonwealth University that is located in Richmond, VA (population 204,212)?…that VCU is a large public university but does not have any tradition in basketball and was one of the “bubble teams” as the last group chosen by the tournament selection committee?…that these two teams by all talent metrics should not be in the FINAL FOUR?…that by the metrics of planning, teamwork, and execution that these teams have both taken out much more talented but much less disciplined teams?…that one to these schools will be playing either Kentucky or UCONN for the national championship next Monday night?…that the City County Observer is rooting for a Butler vs. Kentucky final?…that will rev up the Tri-state with pride and interest to see an Indiana vs. Kentucky NCAA Final?

IS IT TRUE that on November 27, 2010 the Evansville Purple Aces went to Hinkle Fieldhouse and defeated the FINAL FOUR Butler Bulldogs by a score of 71 – 68?…that the Aces turned the tables on Butler with planning, teamwork, and execution?…that teams like Butler and VCU should give the Aces and their fans hope that someday a FINAL FOUR could be in our future?…that UE most certainly has the same attributes to use in the recruiting game that Butler does?…that UE has a much deeper basketball tradition than VCU has?…that back in the 60’s when Coach McCutcheon was winning Division II National Championships that there was that one magic year in 1965 when the Aces went undefeated and won their fourth championship?…that the Division I Champs that year were John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins?…that UCLA lost in the regular season to Iowa that lost to the Aces?…that if the Aces would have been in Division I in 1965 there is a high probability that one of those banners hanging in Roberts Stadium would have been a Division I NCAA Championship?…that deep in the archives of Sports Illustrated is a great story about how much of a positive effect the 1965 Aces had on the pride of the people of the City of Evansville?…that it can happen again?…that for those of you who would like to feel a bit of that pride we have included this link to the SI story about the 1965 Aces?…that this story is as much about the City of Evansville at a time when things were going well as it is about the Aces?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1076904/index.htm

Link to Saturdays Evansville Police Activity Report.

EPD Activity Report March 26 2011