IS IT TRUE? November 20, 2011

IS IT TRUE that with the 2012 election cycle upon us that it is time to start thinking about what will be the topics to tackle in the upcoming year?…that of course one very important topic to keep in the forefront will be just how our newly elected but not yet seated officials execute on their campaign promises and on how the Winnecke Administration will attack the unresolved issues that the Weinzapfel Administration will be leaving for his successor to resolve?…that the big issues that are unresolved are the McCurdy, the downtown Convention Hotel, the Parks Disaster, Combined Sewer Overflows, and of course Roberts Stadium?…that there are many other issues like friendly city employees, efficiency, fire contracts, board appointments, etc. that will keep the Winnecke Administration fully occupied just cleaning out the barn?

IS IT TRUE that Vanderburgh County will have a pretty full election cycle this year with two Commissioners and three County Council seats up for grabs?…that at the state level we will of course have the entire Indiana House of Representatives, some key Senate seats, and a Governor’s mansion to fill?…that nationally 2012 promises to be an election year to remember with the top office of interest being that of President of the United States?…that at the congressional level it will be interesting to see if the Republicans can extend their gains from the 2010 election cycle to hold both houses of congress?…that the real issues at the national level in most elections will be a referendum on the success or failure of the Obama Administrations first term?…that whomever the Republicans nominate will have their hands full as President Obama is already in full campaign mode and seems to be able to raise whatever money is possible?…that Indiana economist Morton Marcus opined one big thumbs down on Republican hopeful Texas Governor Rick Perry today stating in layman’s terms that Perry is just too dumb to be president?…that Governor Perry seems to have gotten an F in college chemistry to prove it?

IS IT TRUE that in a court of law if one withholds material information that means big trouble and is called “obstruction of justice”?…that in a public company that withholding material information or trading stock on inside information is punishable as a crime?…that it seems as though in every election cycle there seems to be someone somewhere that uses a strategy of withholding material information until after an election and that it is condoned as a viable strategy?…that the CCO believes that withholding or delaying material information until election day should be dealt with the way it is dealt with in court cases and business?…that who we elect is more important than who we electrocute?…that Penn State is going through serious issues now because of several people’s decision to withhold information?…that there is no place for that kind of behavior in politics?

IS IT TRUE that perhaps the most important decision locally next year will be the referendum on consolidated government?…that it is widely accepted that there is much potential for savings by consolidating all of Vanderburgh County under a single government?…that it is also widely recognized that the plan that we will be voting on not only failed to identify significant savings but that it has forbidden future officials from enacting savings in the largest budget items for a period of 10 years?…that the identified savings in the current plan only amount to 0.20% of the combined City-County budgets?…that if one scales that to the average family income in Vanderburgh County that this is the equivalent of $1.31 per week or the cash value of about 40 aluminum cans?…that what we are really faced with is to vote for a good idea with a poor plan or to vote down the poor plan?…that the consolidation committee could have killed this argument by developing a solid plan that identified solid and significant savings?

IS IT TRUE that on a statewide level the “Right to Work” issue seems to be the most controversial thing that will be under consideration?…that this issue may very well shape the narrative for the 2012 State of Indiana campaigns?…that the term “Right to Work” is much understood by both supporters and opponents and that the first real order of business should be to educate voters about exactly what “Right to Work” really means?…that the eyes of the country will be on Indiana with this as the natural fact is that if Indiana adopts “Right to Work” into law it will be the first of the traditional Rust Belt states to do so?…that the one thing that the City County Observer encourages from our state legislature is to stay in Indiana and enter into a constructive dialog as opposed to running for the border like the Democrat contingent did last year?…that this is the year to face this head on and make a well thought out decision for our state?

IS IT TRUE? November 19, 2011

IS IT TRUE that Vectren president and CEO Carl Chapman’s presentation to the Evansville City Council this week provided a perfect opportunity to test Vectren’s assertions that at some point in the future that all of the electricity providers will have to make investments that will translate into an increase in other peoples rates so that they are at or above what we pay in SW Indiana?…that one particular provider, Kentucky Utilities (KU) that had been cited by the Louisville Courier Journal as owning up to coming increases that would bring them into compliance with Vectren still commanding a 50% premium was disputed by Mr. Chapman?…that the City County Observer contacted KU and learned that KU’s charge for 1,000 kWh today is $86.70?…that Vectren’s current total charge for the same thing is $157.60 or 82% higher than KU?…that KU projects that it will be increasing rates to $105.00 for 1,000 kWh by 2016 when it will reach EPA attainment?…that if Vectren freezes its rates for the next 5 years that it will still be 50% higher for electricity in SW Indiana than it is in the locations that KU services?…that is not consistent with Vectren’s assertions that other areas will catch up or pass them in rates to achieve attainment?

IS IT TRUE that the dense pack technology that Vectren is planning to install in two turbines at its A. B. Brown plant was approved in 2009 by the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission (IURC)?…that the gear is already on order and that Vectren has been making progress payments on the gear as it has been prepared for delivery?…that these improvements are going to be made and that the IURC has already approved the projects?…that the only variable is the amount of the cost that will be passed on to the ratepayers?…that Vectren has requested that this amount should be $1.08 per meter per month?…that is the subject of the November 28th meeting of the IURC at the Centre at 5:30 pm?…that we encourage all of our readers to attend and furthermore encourage the Evansville City Council to adjust their regularly scheduled meeting so they can all attend the IURC meeting as well?…that there is nothing that can be more important to the constituents of the City Council than this meeting and that our elected officials NEED TO BE THERE?

IS IT TRUE that of all of the rate increases that Vectren has ever asked for that on the surface the upgrading to dense pack technology really does appear to be in the financial best interest and the environmental best interest of SW Indiana?…that it was nevertheless the straw that broke the camel’s back with the people of Evansville?…that maybe something good like an increase in interests and awareness among the people of Evansville will come from this?…that awareness has been a long time coming in this neck of the woods?

IS IT TRUE that the executive session of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission on Thursday came and went without so much as a peep being disclosed to the public about the meeting?…that we assume that the discussion which was disclosed to be about the continuing saga of the downtown Convention Hotel centered around VETTING?…that we are quite curious regarding the report on the two proposals to see if Hunden Strategic Partners is giving their blessing to go forward with either proposal after VETTING the respondents and their proposals?…that some developer has pre-empted the whole process by entering into a contract to buy the Riverhouse and leaking the intention to build a 125 to 150 room hotel on the riverfront?…that this is exactly the size of hotel that was recommended for downtown Evansville anyway and the ERC request for proposal actually specified 220 rooms that exceeds the number of rooms recommended by professionals?

IS IT TRUE? November 18, 2011 Part 2 “BUTTONGATE, Polls and the Machine”

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer was graciously provided the powerpoint presentation that Vectren CEO Carl Chapman made to the Evansville City Council on Monday night by Vectren’s PR department?…that we didn’t even ask for it and they sent it anyway and that we appreciate that openness?…that we called the Evansville City Clerk’s office so that we could listen to the tape that was made of Monday night’s meeting and ran into a series of excuses that are reminiscent of an elementary students excuses for not doing their homework?…that we heard, we don’t have it, it isn’t ready yet, the notes are not transcribed yet, and that we were poised to deal with “the dog ate it”, “the McCurdy brown bats flew away with it”, and even the CCO’s flying monkey’s took the tape?…that the Courthouse Moles told us that City Clerk Alberta Matlock forgot to push the button to tape the meeting so there is not a tape available?…that after six phone calls back and forth that Alberta’s trust assistant finally admitted that Alberta did not record the meeting?…that the Evansville City Clerk Alberta Matlock has just broken the record of 18 minutes of missed recording set back in the 1970’s by the Nixon Administration in what started the GATE suffix phenomena with WATERGATE?…that we do appreciate the office of the City Clerk owning up to the truth and for providing us with a new term FORGOT TO PUSH THE BUTTONGATE?…that we expect that WNIN has a recording and will bail the City Clerk’s office out with a reproduction recording so they can put the minutes on paper?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer has conducted a series of polls since the election and that all of the polls have been allowed to stay up for a couple of days so that a significant number of votes could be cast?…that the main topic of these polls have been the so called “machine” that received so much attention and scorn during the recent campaign?…that we have determined from our polls regarding the “machine” that our readers believe that there is a “machine” that runs Evansville by a 3 to 1 margin?…that our readers furthermore believe by the same 3 – 1 margin that the “machine” contains both Democrat and Republican members and that the only way to rid the City of Evansville is to either wait for the people making up the “machine” to die or to just Grin and Bear it since the “machine” is just part of what Evansville is?…that 18 of our reader voters are idealistic and believe that the “machine” can be reformed?

IS IT TRUE that things have not changed much in 3 decades as exactly 30 years ago a distinguished professor at the University of Evansville told this writer that the best career move would be to get out of here and don’t come back until there had been about 200 funerals that were needed to clean up local government?…that the funerals happened but the “machine” is still in charge and that the remedy for fixing Evansville is still a bunch of funerals?…that it seems as though the “machine” teaches its children well and makes sure that they inherit power and position even if it is elected?

IS IT TRUE that in another poll our readers believe that major spending that is being contemplated or contracted right now by the Weinzapfel Administration should be subject to the approval or the veto of Mayor Elect Lloyd Winnecke?…that the City County Observer believes that while shoving through $100 Million in spending during a lame duck period may be legal that it is just not the right thing to do?…that soon Mayor Winnecke will have to deal with these contracts and pay for these contracts so he should have veto power over any major expenditure right now?…that goes double for legacy bumbling projects like the McCurdy and the downtown Convention Hotel?…that even the Congress of the United States that has an approval rating that is flirting with single digits knows better than to shove major legislation through in a lame duck session?

IS IT TRUE? November 18, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the Evansville IceMen fell from the ranks of the unbeaten last night in a home loss to the Fort Wayne Komets in front of a feisty home crowd of 2,700?…that 2,700 attendees is not quite the 3,500 budgeted for but that the average is still holding very well and it was a Thursday night?…that the weekend crowds have real potential to make up for midweek dips and that A WINNING TEAM which we have with the IceMen will fill those seats?…that despite last night’s loss that the IceMen are still in 2nd place in their division and have one less loss than the division leader?

IS IT TRUE that reading of the testimony yesterday by President Obama’s Energy Secretary Steven Chu, that the dialog about the Solyndra loan default sounded so much like series of events that has the McCurdy Hotel in the uncertain quagmire that it is in?…that in the Evansville version of the Solyndra default that the role of President Obama has been played by outgoing Mayor Weinzapfel and the role of Secretary Chu has been played by the Evansville Redevelopment Commission?…that in both cases there was clearly a rush to make a deal without VETTING the partner or the project?…that in both cases the elected official at the top of the ticket being President Obama or Mayor Weinzapfel has received substantial campaign contributions from people involved with the deal?…that in both cases public investment was subordinated to private investment?…that in both cases the partner (Solyndra or City Centre Properties LLC) were chosen by a high ranking elected official?…that in both cases negative news was delayed until after an election?…that in the case of Solyndra the people’s money and assets were lost?…that the jury is still out on the McCurdy but the fact that the recent tax bill has been declared to be in default surely makes it look like Evansville is on a collision course with a Solyndra moment of its own?

IS IT TRUE that in today’s Wall Street Journal there is an article about Fort Smith, Arkansas and what they are planning to do to fill the1,000 person job vacuum that well be created when our old friend Whirlpool closes their refrigerator plant in the Summer of 2012?…that this article was truly a déjà vu moment to read?…that Fort Smith is planning to fall back on health care and tourism to try to fill the voids?…that there were also discussions about local suppliers of plastic parts that were dependent on Whirlpool that will struggle to survive?…that all that was needed to make this Evansville’s story is to change the name and the date?…that there was one big difference?…that the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce stated in the article that they have a $2.2 Million fund on hand to encourage new businesses?…that the CCO does not have any knowledge of such a fund being available in Evansville by the Chamber, the City Government, or even the County Government?

IS IT TRUE that we had funds but a large number of those dollars were used to build some Front Door Pride houses that are still languishing on the market at prices that are roughly $100,000 per house less than they cost to put there?…that if the Fort Smith can learn anything from Evansville it should be “DO NOT SQUANDER FUNDS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED FOR BUSINESS TO BUILD HOUSES”?…that unlike Evansville, Fort Smith does have a growing population growing from 53,000 to 86,209 since 1960 during which Evansville shrunk from 141.543 to 117,429?…that at these growth and loss rates Fort Smith will pass Evansville in population in the year 2,038 when both cities will have a population of 101,819?…that this projection is based on a 50 year history but can change if Evansville changes its ways to promote job growth in the private sector?…that Mayor Elect Winnecke has some of the right ideas in his plan like establishing both Angel and Venture investment vehicles, leveraging the GAGE Technology Transfer agreement, and promoting existing businesses?…that these are difficult tasks to achieve but that if Mayor Elect Winnecke pulls these things off he may just reverse a 50 year exodus of our young educated professionals and keep a few of the old heads that still have some fight left in them from vacating Evansville for the beach?

IS IT TRUE? November 17, 2011

IS IT TRUE that a call to the Vanderburgh County Treasurer’s Office today by the City County Observer resulted in us learning that the McCurdy Hotel owned by City Centre Properties LLC of Carmel, IN has officially been declared to be delinquent on their tax bill?… that City Centre Properties that owns tract #82-06-30-020-005.002-029, aka the McCurdy Hotel has failed to pay their Fall 2011 installment of their real estate taxes?…that the tax bill on that property that was due last week was $10,268.66 but has now a penalty of 5% is now $10,782.69?…that if they don’t pay this by December 10th they will be popped with another 5% penalty?…that the choice not to pay this tax bill serves as an early indicator that City Center Properties LLC either does not have the means or intention to move forward with this project without public money handed to them to do so?

IS IT TRUE that as we just reported the Riverhouse Hotel has a contract on it?…that the Riverhouse which has recently had much trouble and fell into as many or more code violations that the McCurdy failed to register an acceptable bid at a recent auction only bringing an interest up to $350,000 that the bank owner refused to accept?…that the financial parts of this deal have not been released and that only the principals, Mole #7, Mole #44, and the McCurdy Brown Bats know the details.?…that the McCurdy Brown Bats learned by dropping eaves that are dangerously close to falling off anyway?…that the McCurdy Brown Bats have been known to gossip a bit to their friends the Pigeon Creek Piranha so just go ask the Piranha if you need to know?

IS IT TRUE that the real information comes from the McCurdy Rat Snakes who did get a glimpse of some plans for a 125 – 150 room riverfront hotel that the buyer and seller were discussing in the parking lot?…that the potential for a new riverfront hotel may just have some affect on the deliberations that the Evansville Redevelopment Commission regarding the longsuffering downtown Convention Hotel project slated for the space between the Ford Center and the Centre?…that just when we thought the vetting would be done and a decision could be made that new information comes along?…that Evansville could still benefit from a Convention Hotel and that the Hunden Strategic Partners vetting of Prime Lodging and the Kunkel Group should play itself out?…that as soon as it is revealed that the study is complete that it is the responsibility of the ERC and the DMD to release that study to the public?…that just to keep the process honest that the City County Observer will file a Freedom of Information Act Request the hour that we know that this report has been completed?…that going forward with anything at all with respect to a contract or a decision without the justification of the Hunden study that we the people of Evansville paid for is not acceptable?

IS IT TRUE that the CCO believes that this downtown Convention Hotel project has gone on long enough and that the Weinzapfel Administration’s bumbling has been the only consistency at all?…that it is time for a new team to make this decision and the name of that team is the Winnecke Administration?…that we encourage Mayor Elect Winnecke to inject himself into this discussion so that it does not become an unmanageable albatross around his neck in the future?