IS IT TRUE that the real projected costs of implementing the new reading our water meters via satellite could be between 60 to 80 million of dollars? ….that the local main stream media should monitor the upcoming agenda of the Water and Sewer Board concerning the awarding of this proposed big ticket public works project? ….we wonder if this proposed project is approved how will this big ticket public works project affect our future water and sewer bills? ….we wonder why this proposed big ticket public works project has been quietly discussed among political powers that be?

IS IT TRUE that former Vanderburgh County Sheriff and 8th District member of the United States House of Representatives Brad Ellsworth has accepted a job as the President of Vectren’s Indianapolis operation?…that we are wondering if Citizen Ellsworth will have any influence in his role to roll back the electricity rates in SW Indiana to a competitive price?…that we would all be elated if our price was rolled back to a level where it is only double what the electricity rates are across the bridge in Henderson?…that we don’t expect that helping Vectren become competitive will be in Brad’s job description?…that we do congratulate Mr. Ellsworth on his new position and wish him well in Indianapolis?…that hope he does not forget where he came from?

IS IT TRUE that the Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives Brian Bosma has announced intention to start fining the AWOL Democrats who for the most part are still holed up in Illinois?…that taking away their per diem did not work and a symbolic $100 per day fine will not get their attention either?…that the only way to get their attention is through a recall process that Indiana does not have?…that there may be a just punishment coming their way at the hands of the State of Illinois and that both the Indiana and Wisconsin legislators could be victims of their own little ruse?…that they have been in Illinois for over 14 days and that they have all supposedly been working and drawing a paycheck?…that by the time this drags out if over half of the legislative session is spent in Illinois that they could be determined for tax purposes to be residents of Illinois?…that Illinois just raised their taxes and will take an insulting bite at their home state earnings if they are deemed to be residents of Illinois for tax purposes?

IS IT TRUE that it would truly be ironic for the legislature of one state to be deemed residents of another state and to pay taxes from Indiana earnings to their new home state of Illinois?…that residency is a requirement for serving in the Indiana House of Representatives?…that the residency option may be worth exploring for both the State of Illinois and for Speaker Bosma’s crusade to bring the wayward legislators home?

IS IT TRUE that the residency of Al Lindsey has finally been put to rest for 2011 City of Evansville election purposes?…that all of the challenges have been repudiated and that the Democratic nomination for the 6th Ward City Council seat will finally come down to a vote as it should?…that Mr. Lindsey and incumbent City Councilman B. J. Watts can start to campaign on their vision and their records and the people of the 6th Ward can choose between them?…that we hope to see a spirited and fair campaign with the best candidate to emerge as the winner?

Ellsworth Campaigned in Uniform so Why the Drama over Al Lindsey?

The Election Board has rejected the complaint filed last week by Randall Whitehouse where he stated that Mr. Lindsey did not live in the 6th Ward. Mr. Whitehouse had stated in his complaint that he had personally gone to Mr. Lindsey’s residence twice a day over a period of two months to record whether or not a vehicle was in the driveway. He also attached a sheriff’s report regarding a pit bull dog that killed 3 chickens owned by Mr. Lindsey at another address in April of 2010.

In yet another attempt to have Mr. Lindsey disqualified from running the father-in-law of Mr. Lindsey’s opponent, David Mosby filed an objection to the fact that a campaign ad was in the City County Observer with Mr. Lindsey’s image appearing in the uniform of an Evansville Fire Fighter. As it is widely known that former member of the United States House of Representatives Brad Ellsworth campaigned in the uniform that he wore as Sheriff of Vanderburgh County, it is curious that Mr. Mosby never filed an objection to his candidacy.

Neither residency complaints, deceased chickens, or even an alleged fashion snafu has been able to get Mr. Lindsey off of the ballot. There are now two democratic candidates seeking this seat and they get to settle this the old fashioned way, by campaigning. Incumbent B. J. Watts and Al Lindsey are now over every objection and can begin the race.

The Real Cost of $2.5 Million of FREE MONEY is $22.7 Million

Official City of Evansville Press Release

Release-Evansville_Low_Income_Housing_Tax_Credits-02-28-11 (1)

Development Terms for 40 Goosetown Houses

40 Goosetown houses

Cedar Trace Project Narrative

Attachment-Evansville_LIHTC-Cedar_Trace_III_Project_Narrative

Evansville Housing Authority Project Narrative

Attachment-Evansville_LIHTC-VISION_1505_Project_Narrative

IS IT TRUE that just yesterday the City County Observer called for the City of Evansville to be forthcoming with the details of the highly celebrated $2.5 Million “grant” for the construction of 120 affordable housing units to be built in Evansville?…that we did all sorts of searches online looking for such details and found nothing?…that yesterday afternoon the details magically appeared in our email in the form of an official press release from the Mayor of Evansville detailing the three separate programs?…that this press release did not come to us from the Mayor’s office as it should have on Monday when it was issued?…that other news sources must not have deemed the details to be of importance?…that the details are the subject of today’s IS IT TRUE?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer questioned the quality of what could be built for the reported figure of roughly $21,000 per home and even projected that the 40 single family homes slated to be built in Goosetown would cost between $8 Million and $10 Million?…that the actual cost of the 40 Goosetown homes is disclosed in the official City of Evansville press release to be $9,252,765?…that this project has a tax credit allocation of $1,021,031 associated with them making the cost to be borne by a private developer to be $8,231,734, or $205,793 per house?…that these houses are slated to be RENT TO OWN for a period of 15 years at a rates between $350 and $700 per month?…that using a present value of $130,000 ($75,000 under cost), a 4% interest rate, and a monthly lease rate of $500 results in an obligation in 15 years of nearly $360,000 for each of these houses?…that the project financing is stated to be coming from CONVENTIONAL BANK FINANCING?…that we wonder what conventional bank will see a good opportunity in lending a private developer $8.2 Million to build 40 houses in Goosetown?…we are quite curious to see just what kind of government guarantees will be needed to get this project off of the ground?

IS IT TRUE that the 48 apartment units that will be called Cedar Trace III will have a total cost of $5,760,000 with a tax credit available of $638,586?…that the net cost per apartment works out to $106,696 each?…that apartments that cost that much to build rent for close to $1,000 per month in the real world?…that this project is also expected to be financed by a CONVENTIONAL BANK?…that we will believe it when we see it unless of course there is a GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE to back up the deal?

IS IT TRUE that the Renovation of the formerly advertised as “to dilapidated to renovate” safe house when justification was needed to build a new jail will cost $7,677,308 to net only 32 apartments?…that there is a whopping $832,140 tax credit available for the developer that is willing to take this project on?…that the price works out to an eye popping $213,912 per apartment which is more than a 4 bedroom Front Door Pride house costs?…that the financing is of course all provided by GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS and that the developer of record is the EVANSVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITY?…that it would in all likelihood be less expensive to just tear the old building down as it should have been years ago and build from scratch?…that this project certainly has the look and feel of the $90 hammers and the $500 toilet seats that have become symbolic of government waste?…that there are plenty of apartment complexes currently on the market in Evansville that are comparable to what is being planned that can be purchased for under $1,000,000?…that in a world where it is okay to overspend by $6.68 Million (668%) it is no small wonder that we cannot afford to mow the parks and eradicate crime?

IS IT TRUE that at the end of the day, the celebrated $2.5 Million win of free money will result in the expenditure of $22,690,073 or $189,083 each for houses and apartments that will be located in the parts of Evansville with high crime, underperforming schools, and severe infrastructure problems?…that we really wonder how this is an example of good and responsible government?…that we thank the good people who provided us with the real information and hope that as many of our friends and neighbors learn about the real cost as possible?…that the remainder of the unsold Front Door Pride houses should be converted to rentals so as to conform to the new direction that “FREE MONEY” will drive these neighborhoods?

IS IT TRUE that the receipt of federal grants in the amount of $2.5 Million have been secured by the City of Evansville and will be used to create 120 new or refurbished living units targeting low income people?…that projects like these done as far back as 50 years ago but certainly in the last 10 years would have improved the look of certain parts of the city?…that a simple division problem of dividing $2.5M by 120 yields a number of only $20,833.33 per living unit as a cost to produce?…that this is less than 10% of what has and is being spent to build Front Door Pride homes?…that this begs the question, “where is the rest of the money coming from”?

IS IT TRUE that $20,833 is the kind of price that it costs to build a half of a Habitat house?…that Habitat for Humanity is able to build low income houses for in the $40,000 range because of extensive volunteerism, drastically discounted materials, and cookie cutter designs?…that there is essentially no way that a new living unit can be created for $20,833 even with volunteer labor?…that we are quite curious to find out the rest of the story on what the real cost is and who is paying for it?

IS IT TRUE that the 40 three and four bedroom homes that are slated for Goosetown will be mingled in and around the other Front Door Pride homes that have already been built?…that the cost to build the first round of FDP homes has been slightly over $200,000 per home and that the selling price has been closer to an average of $100,000 per home?…that the FDP homes have been very difficult to sell with half of them languishing on the market for over a year?…that building 40 more homes into Goosetown that are less expensive and slated to be leased will impact both the value and the marketability of the FDP homes?…that if these 40 homes are comparable to the FDP homes that Evansville is looking at a cost of between $8M and $10M just for construction?…that accepting government money always comes with strings and we are very interested in the strings attached to this $2.5M?

IS IT TRUE as we continuously point out that truly bringing the FDP area back to a point that young educated professionals want to be there requires performing schools, safety, and let us not forget a sewer system that does not continuously smell like a cesspool?…that a wise lady has a saying on her refrigerator that reads “Never trade what you want most for what you want today”?…that a FREE infusion of $2.5M with a photo-op in a dilapidated neighborhood is an irresistible temptation to politicians?…that it may be a good thing?…that it will only be a good thing if it makes a real and sustainable difference?…that a tangible and achievable master plan for an area in need of improvement would be the first step to making that happen?…that the question of “do these 40 homes serve to further the purpose of the master plan?” should have been the first question asked?…that mixing $200,000+ homes with $20,833 homes would never find its way into any professional master plan?…that as with the Downtown we suspect that there is no master plan?…that good public policy comes from thinking and planning followed by action?…that the days of Ready, Fire, Aim in Evansville are numbered?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer would really like to believe in these three projects and especially in the FDP part of it?…that we would like to see a MASTER PLAN, where this project serves the goals of the MASTER PLAN, and a full accounting of the total funds budgeted along with the source of these funds released by the City of Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that at the current rate of population shrinkage that it will take approximately 4 months for enough people to leave the City of Evansville to render 140 more living units to be vacant?…that we really wonder what it is about the new units that will stop the flow of people from fleeing the City of Evansville faster than 37 members of the Indiana House of Representatives have fled the Capitol?

IS IT TRUE that the Willard Library is expanding?…that the expansion is seeking some level of assistance from the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau?…that if the entire cash stream from the Innkeeper’s Tax would have been committed to building 8 little league ball fields and tearing down Robert’s Stadium that there would be no such funds available for leveraging to make much more value from that cash stream?…that this is the first of many forthcoming examples about why the $18 Million ball fields would not have been a wise use of these dollars?

IS IT TRUE that the parks of the City of Evansville really are could be a tourist draw if they were in any condition to do so?…that it is entirely possible that the Innkeepers Tax and the CVB may just have a role to play in the reclamation of the Evansville City Parks?…that some of the $18 Million was actually slated to do some improvements in Wesselman Park?…that the City of Evansville found a way to hold the project hostage to get Robert’s Stadium demolished with the Innkeeper’s Tax?…that something with the improvement of the parks would be a worthy consideration of that money?

IS IT TRUE that it has now been 1,391 days since the announcement was made on May 14, 2007 that the McCurdy Hotel was to be refurbished into luxury apartments?…that it has now been 1,245 days since the Evansville Redevelopment Commission at the request of Mayor Weinzapfel approved the spending of $603,000 to purchase the parking lot?…that City Centre Properties and Scott Kosene the developers of the McCurdy project are both listed as contributors to the Weinzapfel for Mayor committee for 2010?

IS IT TRUE that there are now 619 days remaining in the two years that the EPA had given the City of Evansville to present an acceptable solution to the Combined Sewer Overflow problem?…..that this plan is an expensive and complex endeavor that needs immediate attention to avoid the embarrassment and expense of another round of fines?

IS IT TRUE that Mole #3 says the Evansville Department of Water and Sewers is putting out a request for proposals (RFP) to accept bids to implement a modernization of reading of water meters?…that if implemented that this technology will eliminate the need for meter readers and may just eliminate all of those jobs?…that there are only a couple of companies that offer this technology and that the call for bids has not been published in local papers?…that the Director of Information Technology may have inserted a clause into the RFP that states that any prospective bidder that speaks to any person outside of the Department administration will be disqualified?…that seems to include talking to not only the press but to members of the City Council as well?…that this project is alleged to be in the tens of millions of dollars?…that this GAG ORDER is censorship of the highest order?…that contemplating the purchase of new technology with a price tag of over $10 Million should be done in public according to open door laws?

IS IT TRUE that candidate for the Democratic nomination for Evansville City Council from the 6th Ward, Evansville Firefighter Al Lindsey will be represented by one of the most competent and tenacious attorneys that practices in SW Indiana?…that none other than Republican extraordinaire Les Shively will be representing Mr. Lindsey’s right to run on Thursday at 1:00?…that politics really can make for unexpected alliances?…that the City County Observer is not surprised as Mr. Shively is known to be on the side of law and frequently advocates for upholding the law?

IS IT TRUE that Mole #3 says that the fiber optic connection between the new Arena and the Civic Center that was celebrated as costing under $100,000 and saving great sums of money is now running over budget by a newsworthy amount?…that we are curious when that expenditure and the revised cost will be made public?…that we wonder why there is not RFP published for this project just as no bids were taken for the demolition of the Executive Inn?

IS IT TRUE that the City of Evansville just announced yet another win of outside grant money that will be used to build 120 units of “affordable” housing?…that Director of DMD Tom Barnett is on record as stating the over 8,000 homes in Evansville are dilapidated and that the US Census confirms that over 7,000 homes are abandoned in Evansville?…that the population has been shrinking for 50 years?…that as pretty and nice as the 120 “affordable” units may be we question the need for housing in a city that has 8,000 abandoned homes?…that maybe the money to build these units is federal grant money that is considered “free” by local government?…that these homes have the sound of “bridge to nowhere” unless of course the demolition team is out taking down as many of the 8,000 dilapidated obsolete houses as possible?…that these 120 units will not be something that attracts educated young professionals nor will these units do anything about the poor performance of the schools in the FDP area?…that projects like these do not improve the demographics of Evansville and do not benefit anyone except the few people who live in the reduced cost housing and the politicians who claim credit for doing something?

IS IT TRUE that competent fishermen do not cast their nets in places where there are not any fish?…that hunters do not hunt for elephants in SW Indiana because there are no elephants here?…that private builders do not build homes for sale in places that people are leaving in droves?…that governments should have the good sense to do the same?…that if the re-population of Evansville’s Front Door Pride district is to begin that it will start with the eradication of criminal activity and with the establishment of acceptable schools in that area?…that bricks and mortar can not buy brains and safety?

Ann Arbor Sidewalks Cleared Quickly and Completely

The City County Observer has never had a story posted from an airport before so here goes a first. In my weekend in Ann Arbor I was able to walk on probably 10 miles of sidewalks that had been cleared of snow that fell last week by City of Ann Arbor employees according City of Ann Arbor policy. The picture sort of says it all from the window of a Starbucks.

I did speak to a few people about the cleanliness and the most telling comment came from a University of Michigan Astronomy professor who said;

“they (the city) don’t shovel every sidewalk in town, just the ones that they really care about in the downtown because they want it to be an attractive place for people to go for entertainment”.

I think that says it all. Will the City of Evansville ever get it? Ann Arbor’s downtown was full of businesses and even had two old theaters that were operating and showing foreign and film festival films for $6 per ticket. I can not say that I am surprised in the least.

IS IT TRUE that Evansville Memorial High School’s Kyle Kuric once again was a hero for the Louisville Cardinals Coach Rick Pitino in the Cards victory over 4th ranked Pittsburgh?…that Kuric sank a three pointer in overtime to put the Cardinals up to stay and then got loose for a breakaway slam dunk to put the exclamation point on the game with 0.5 seconds remaining?…that a happy cheerleader got a technical foul called on himself and caused a bit of drama in the last 0.5 seconds but that the Cards were victorious anyway?…that seeing Kyle Kuric have such a good year with his frequent TV appearances is good for Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that there are many lessons that Evansville could learn from Louisville?…that the new YUM Center has sold out all 20 (all nationally televised) of the men’s basketball games this year with an average attendance of just over 22,000 people per game?…that the Lady Cardinals are #2 in the nation in attendance at 11,058 people per game?…that with the University of Louisville basketball teams drawing over 825,000 people since YUM Center opened in November that the overall attendance has thus far topped 1 Million people?…that with at kind of attendance and exposure it is no wonder that YUM Brands was willing to ante up over $1M per year for naming rights.

IS IT TRUE that Mole #13 tells us that Ann Arbor, Michigan has chased the abominable snow man out of town and that all of the sidewalks in the 25 square block downtown district are cleared of snow?…that caring for downtown’s must do something for commerce because empty storefronts are few and far between and the streets are relatively filled both day and night?…that the feel of the streets when the sidewalks are cleared, the streetlights work, and there are people around is SAFE?…that it is hard to find a parking place none the less?

IS IT TRUE that Roberts Stadium was sent out in style with an University of Evansville Purple Aces VICTORY and with a crowd of nearly 11,000 people?…that the sounds of the crowd and the energy of the team was a great reminder of just how those 5 national championship banners were earned by the Aces of the past?…that the City County Observer is rooting for championship seasons, banners to hang, and sell out games at the new downtown Evansville Arena for both the UE Aces and the USI Eagles?

IS IT TRUE that we and others are truly beginning to have more than a passing concern for the non-start of any activity down at the McCurdy Hotel?…that after over three years windows remain open, pigeons seek refuge, and lights eerily come on from time to time?…that neglect is a very well proven way to devalue a building, and especially a historical brick building with aging tuck pointing?…that the City of Evansville is already into this project for $1.4 Million and counting and has negative equity to show for it?…that it is time to have this developer either perform or get out of the way so the project can be opened up for another developer?…that this looks like the extended version of the Executive Inn Dilemma?…that Evansville people and Evansville money came to the rescue of the downtown Convention Hotel saga?…that maybe some local group will pull the City of Evansville’s fat out of the fire down at the McCurdy too?…that it is getting tiring to watch one Indianapolis based business after another come to Evansville to prove what they can’t or won’t do?