IS IT TRUE that City County Observer Mole #3 has predicted for over a year now that lame duck Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel would not be making a run for either a 3rd term as Mayor or for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Indiana?…that the next career step for Mayor Weinzapfel may just be a position as a lobbyist in either Indianapolis or Washington D. C.?…that the 32 candidates who have put themselves forward to fill 10 elected positions will assume the collective leadership role for the City of Evansville on January 1, 2012?…that the problems that they will face are already legion?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer is pleased with the fact that VenuWorks has announced the intention to hire 25 full time workers and up to 300 part timers to service the new Evansville Arena?…that SMG has 32 full time employees in Evansville right now and employs and equivalent number of part timers to do the day to day things needed to manage events?…that we encourage VenuWorks to give much consideration to any SMG employees who may be let go as they have valuable knowledge of local markets and sponsorship opportunities?…that we hope that although the process was suspect that the transition will be smooth and that Evansville prospers as a result of opening the new Arena?

IS IT TRUE that moving 25 or 32 or even 300 jobs from one location within the City of Evansville to another location WILL NOT CREATE ONE JOB?…that the only way for any public official to claim credit for permanent job creation as a result of building the new Arena is to find a use way to use Roberts Stadium in a way that retains many of the jobs that are already depending on its events?…that if and we must say if some senior elected official like a Mayor finds and supports extending the life of Roberts Stadium that then and only then should that person be able to publicly congratulate themselves on creating a single permanent job by building a new Arena?

IS IT TRUE that the 11 elected offices that are up for grabs this year in the City of Evansville elections have drawn the interests of 32 candidates?…that the range of candidates run from high school grads to doctors, from rich to poor, and from populist charismatics to recluses?…that this is what a government of the people is all about?…that Evansville has never seen such a menagerie of people seeking elected office?…that most of these people have a chance?…that for the first time in perhaps 50 or more years Evansville, Indiana has a chance of having a balanced local government?…that good public policy emerges when different philosophies are forced to think together?…that maybe just maybe the groupthink that has paralyzed Evansville will go away forever and a true participative government will lead us to a level not seen since the early 1950’s from a national relevance perspective?

Bill Kramer switches to at-large to Join 5 others for the Party Nomination

Bill Kramer who previously had signed on to carry the Republican banner in the 2nd Ward contest for Evansville City Council today switched his filing to at-large leaving local entrepreneur and businessman E. Lon Walters, whose company coined the billboard term “Your Wife is Hot” to take on the winner of the primary between Missy Mosby and Patrick McBride.

Kramer was preceded this week by 12 hour Mayoral candidate and Certified Nursing Assistant Jeremy L. Heath, and long time law enforcement officer Pete Swaim.

Entering the mix in the last days are former candidate for the Republican nomination for United States House of Representatives and internet entrepreneur Paul Abramson, Republican Committeewoman Michelle Mercer, and David Houston Woods.

As with the Democratic contest the amount of interest in these at-large seats exceeds the nominations available so let the eDebates begin.

Going into the final hours of the last day to file to run for office in the 2011 City of Evansville elections it looked like only 2 candidates would be on the ballot for the Democratic Party. Incumbent City Councilman H. Dan Adams filed a few weeks ago and 2010 candidate for the Indiana House of Representatives Steven Lowell Smith appeared to be the only interested people in the parties three at-large nominations.

In the last 24 hours three new candidates have tossed their hats into the ring seeking the at large nominations. The last minute filer with the most name recognition is recently defeated incumbent Vanderburgh County Assessor Jonathan Weaver. Also joining the race is local defense and family law attorney Conor O’Daniel of Foster, O’Daniel, and Hambidge LLP.

Finally the four men are joined by a lady by the name of Sonya Kates Nixon who describes herself as a criminal justice student, a wife, and a mother of three. Mrs. Nixon sought her parties nomination in the 2007 primary for at-large member of the Evansville City Council as well. Sonya Nixon is the spouse of the Reverend David Nixon who won the Republican primary for Mayor of Evansville in 2007 and was defeated in the general election by a 70 point margin by current Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel.

So, the Democratic primary for at large really seems to have every kind of candidate imaginable from incumbents, to perennial office seekers, to first time candidates. Let the eDebates begin.

In a surprise move, the man who has been called “The Mayor of Goosetown” is having his eligibility to run for Evansville City Council to represent the 4th Ward challenged on the grounds that the word expungement does not appear in Indiana Code regarding eligibility for office.

Mr. Cook as has been previously reported did commit a crime in his youth for which he did his time. Mr. Cook now over 60 years old had preemptively done everything required to make himself eligible to run for office as was supported by Vigo County Officials last year.

Link to reference of his eligibility:

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/dec/16/vigo-co-officials-confirm-fred-cooks-felony-was-ex/?print=1

Link to the law with highlighted applicable code:

[Untitled] (4)

Take That: February 18, 2011
The Most Poignant Readers Comments of the Week

In Response to: The Reorganization Plan’s Potential Negative Impact on Future Local Elections

“As long as there are such things as “unfunded federal mandates”, moving away from national politics will not happen.” Pressanykey

“Local politicians should be local-centered and liberated from party affiliation to facilitate becoming reactionary against assinine federal policy without being called to account by party heirarchy.” Soon2B

In Response to: IS IT TRUE PART 3 February 16, 2011: Make you views known on the GUN LAWS

“This is truly scarey and totally uncalled for. Who comes up with these ideas? Is this the type of work that legislators believe will bring new businesses to Indiana, that will present our state in the best light, that will provide a safe environment for our citizens?” 292

“Don’t we have a greater risk of being run over by a car – inside an Evansville Restaurant – than a random bar shooting?” Eville Taxpayer

“Will you be able to carry a gun in the statehouse and into the chambers where the house and senate meet.” Mfcdkw

“Maybe it was the Yosemite Sam cartoon?” Captenant

In Response to: DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Notice of Lodging of a Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act

“Does the city have a plan to clean up Pigeon Creek?” Railoverauto

“You want park sand boxes, free of drug needles? You have to rake them yourselves…
You want pigeon creek cleaned up? Get to it…The government is too preoccupied building progressive monuments, to bother with such trifles.” Eville Taxpayer

IS IT TRUE that the slots for candidates for Evansville City Council are filling up and in some cases over filling to the point that 3 person primaries will be needed to determine the nominations?…that the 2nd Ward City Council seat now has contested primaries for both major political parties?…that the eDebate between the Democratic candidates Missy Mosby and Patrick McBride will be next Monday in the Community Observer?…that another epic battle is looming in the 2nd Ward between Republican nomination seekers E. Lon Walters and Bill Kramer?…that the at-large seats already have three candidates from each party and Mole #13 tells us that a highly qualified individual may be filing today forcing a primary for the at-large field?

IS IT TRUE that a couple of the City County Observer Moles took advantage of the spring weather to take a trip into the Front Door Pride district in and around Goosetown yesterday?…that the tour guide was none other than the Director of Metropolitan Development Mr. Tom Barnett?…that the Moles were leaning negatively prior to accepting the guided tour?…that some Mole minds may have changed a little?…that there are a few places where entire blocks have either been refurbished or torn down and replaced with FDP houses?…that when entire blocks have been reclaimed that the housing is nice, occupied, and has the look of neighborhood?…that in the locations where the complement was a nice FDP home surrounded by vacant lots or dilapidated crack houses that the FDP homes still have for sale signs up?…that those for sale signs are getting dusty and losing some of their color to UV damage from extended exposure to the sun?…that significant and sustainable change takes cleaning out blocks at a time to separate the new residents from crime and blight?…that Tom Barnett understands this very well but is drastically underfunded from the perspective of really cleaning it all up and making it attractive to the educated young professionals that Evansville is in desperate need of?

IS IT TRUE that one of the most beautiful homes that the Moles were privileged to have a look at was the Evansville Living Idea Home?…that this is perhaps the best and most beautiful reclaimed home in the Washington Avenue corridor?…that over $500,000 was invested in bringing the IDEA HOME up to modern standards with classic elegance?…that this home has been on the market for nearly 6 months and only has an asking price of under $200,000?…that this house in any prosperous American city in a safe and completely reclaimed neighborhood would easily fetch over $1 Million?…that as long as the house next door is patrolled by free range pit bulls that have open front door access to the house, has dilapidated houses across the alley and as far as a child can walk to the school bus, this home will not attract a family of young educated professionals?…that the IDEA HOME represents everything that the Washington corridor and Goosetown can be but that the homes that completely surround it represent why it hasn’t been and why it probably won’t?…that to really create a Johnson Place atmosphere as the Washington corridor once was would require 40 or 50 IDEA HOMES, a demilitarized barrier (maybe a wall) of at least a lot on the entire perimeter, schools that compete with Scott for ISTEP achievement, and the crime to be eradicated?…that the part of that scenario that can be bought will cost $30 Million to $50 Million that Evansville does not have and will not get unless there is a dramatic shift in the local economy?

IS IT TRUE that the Moles were also shown non FDP areas that make Goosetown look pretty darn good?…that Mr. Barnett’s presentation where he revealed that over 8,000 homes in the City of Evansville need over $100k of work each just to be habitable seems like an understatement?…that one Mole has been to 3rd world countries like Indonesia, central Mexico, rural China, and Thailand?…that parts of the City of Evansville have the same look and feel to them as these third world countries and that these places are within walking distance of downtown Evansville?…that the best thing that could happen to some of these areas would be demolition?…that Evansville has nearly 10,000 abandoned homes?…that Evansville has lost 24,000 residents in the last 50 years?…that incidentally coincides quite closely to the number of abandoned homes?…that these homes given the present population and continued contraction are simply not needed?…that demolishing 10,000 abandoned and uninhabitable homes would only cost around $50 Million (the same as getting a Johnson Place atmosphere on Washington)?

IS IT TRUE that a massive demolition would not only “right size” the housing stock of the City of Evansville but it would save a COUPLE of BILLION DOLLARS?….that empty lots do not need sewers?…that it stands to reason that the EPA mandated bill to separate the combined sewers will be reduced by massive demolition as well?…that the Moles came away from this experience with a high level of admiration and respect for Tom Barnett and the task that he has taken on?…that the Moles are also awestruck and shell shocked at the advanced state of dilapidation in much of the housing stock of the City of Evansville?

By Dr. H. Dan Adams

Evansville is a unique place on the Ohio River, here for more than two hundred years. Its intimacy with the river has sustained it over all that time, bringing it food, settlers, and business. During World War II, Evansville stepped up as a formidable provider of the tools for victory.

The Evansville Golden Crescent is made up of roughly four parts: Upstream has concentrated the expression of our history with the LST 325, the Evansville Museum, and the delightful historic home section.

The Golden Crescent

Next is the business engine of banks, larger corporations, courts, new Arena and government. Below that area is the Entertainment District containing Aztar, its bars and gambling. Finally, in the Evansville’s last, downstream section resides it heavy industry with its promise of rejuvenation of a slack water port in the decade to come. Here lies our city!

Surrounded by four major midwestern cities, Evansville has the major advantage of being able to easily get to those urban centers, if desired. Yet our city does retain the marvelous features of quiet sustaining neighborhoods, personal kindness, safe streets and relatively low taxes.

City of Evansville Population
(2009) – 116,584
(2010) – 116,500 with annexation areas included
Vanderburgh County Population (2009) – 175,434
GPS Location – 37.966865 -87.566724
Evansville Regional Airport, IN
Elevation 417 ft Latitude: 38.04306; Longitude –87.52028
Estimated Median Household Income: Evansville – $33,600 Indiana – $47,9662

CITY OF EVANSVILLE PROJECTED REVENUES
Miscellaneous $ 88,192,216
General Fund Property Tax 56,605,735
Sewer Fund Fees 36,244,000
Water Fund Fees 23,237,700
Local County Income Tax 11,367,609
River Boat Fund 10,641,310
Park Fund Property Tax 6,247,500
Fire Pension Property Tax 105,000
Police Pension Property Tax 105,000

Grand Total Revenue Projected $232,782,070

Miscellaneous Revenues: (in Million $)

General Misc 26.4, Fire Pension 5.7, Police Pension 7.0, Parks Misc 3.9, Park Refunding 0.4,
Redevelopment Bond 2011 1.3, Redevlmt Bond ret. 0.2, Print & Supply 0.5, Law Enforcement Ed 0.1,
COIT Misc1.8, Cumultv Capital Improvemt 0.3, Rvboat Misc 0.03, Highwy 4.5, Rny Day 0.03, Golf 1.5,
Redevlmt TIF Ret Bond 0.4, Sports 0.4, Greenway 0.3, Local Rds & Strts 1.8, Cert Tech Pk, 0.001, Pking
Gargs 0.5, HUD Fair Hsing 0.03, EEOC 0.05, TIF Projects Acct 6.9, Hospitalization 19.5, Unemplmt Fd
0.1, Wrkers Comp 1.0, Liabty Ins Fd2.4, Waste Watr 0.7 = $88,192,2163

CITY OF EVANSVILLE 2011 PROJECTED EXPENSES

Total Utility – Water, Sewer & Wastewater $60,133,316
Police 29,420,344
Fire 23,690,223
Total Insurance Fund 22,885,311
Local Income Tax Use Fund 15,318,892
Riverboat Fund 11,168,030
Miscellaneous 10,535,608
Parks and Recreation 10,311,606
Remainder of General Fund 9,053,661
METS 7,159,122
Master TIF Projects 6,917,997
Fire Pension 5,635,137
Highway Fund 5,498,396
Central Dispatch 3,192,956
Local Roads & Streets 2,131,186
Golf Course Non-Reverting 1,511,728
Redevelopment Bond Fund 1,375,519
Dept of Metro City 1,238,655
Code Enforcement 1,185,720
Grand Total City Projected 2011 Expenses $228,363,4074

CITY OF EVANSVILLE – CHALLENGES
BACK to BASICS:

Recession – Slow recovery or double dip.? As the stimulus money’s effect has blunted the potentially catastrophic deep slope of a depression, it is now time to slow BIG government spending, until the exact length and depth of the downturn can be accurately determined. The independent variables of increased revenue from phased-in, newly annexed city areas and a hopeful increase of sales tax income may counter balance the dip caused by the constitutionally demanded property tax ceilings and the EPA sewerage judgment. New hiring for jobs is most needed and should come in one to two years. It is time to be cautious to commit money to projects other than those of the most basic nature. A full-scale attack on new business creation with continued intense encouragement of existing businesses is primary.

Basic Services – As police and fire create public safety and trash collection protects us from epidemics, these needs are paramount. The Firefighter contract must be promptly settled. In the future, arbitration legislation may be needed to push the process along. If the possible revenue crunch does become prohibitive, these primary obligations will take precedent for all other city funding, which could include administrative pay cuts. In light of these basic needs, other much less demanding, frivolous spending should be sharply curtailed.

Sewer Correction – Although an admirable start to correct a huge long-standing problem has been done, much is needed yet. The sewer/water rates have been increased regularly over recent years with each sewer project. Because of the uncertain nature of our economy, no new sewer rate increases should be entertained for at least two years. The Public’s squeal factor is beginning to be heard. The slope of sewer rate increases should be flattened, until the final bill to be paid from the EPA case is known. Ultimately soon, the decades present, eye-and-nose sore of Bee Slough should made into a cleansing fen.

New Arena – About three quarters of the way through its creation, the new Arena’s building goes apace. It IS a beautiful edifice. Hopefully, it will finish early and under budget, as it has so far. When done, it should draw crowds of people to the Downtown on more than 130+ occasions per year. Roberts Stadium costs $15,000 per month to maintain empty, which will not occur for some months. Would it not be worthwhile to retain the iconic building and create another interior use for it? Any solution should wait for at least a year, until it so apparent that the worse of the recession’s damage has passed. All other solutions should be fleshed out during this waiting period to deliver value to ALL of our citizens…not just a handful.

City-County Merger – Although many good ideas have come forth in this most recent effort, the decision not to have the referendum be on this fall’s ballot has effective paralyzed its forward progress. Now that the study has been turned in on January 11st, it may sit gathering dust for almost two years before an appropriate election cycle occurs. The public’s present apathy may well be in concrete by then. The study’s cost of $108,000 for legal and secretarial uses needs to be documented in detail. The question of whether the study was worth the money has yet to be answered.

Summary – The search for city/public consensus management is desperately needed. A kinder, gentler, less “my way or the highway” approach should be sought.

By: Bill Jeffers, Vanderburgh County Surveyor

On January 11, 2011, the Evansville–Vanderburgh County Reorganization Committee delivered its final Plan of Organization to the Vanderburgh County Commissioners and the Evansville City Council. At the county commissioners meeting on the same day, Lloyd Winnecke, Commission President, suggested the three commissioners take a month to look over the plan, and then hold a joint meeting with the city council to have their concerns and questions about the plan addressed by members of the reorganization committee. Mr. Winnecke also suggested another joint meeting with the city council at which the public may give input, after which both legislative bodies can modify the plan based on the feedback from the public, elected officials, and committee members.

When one considers the vociferous and copious feedback heard at the reorganization committee’s many public hearings, the anticipated mass of public comments on the reorganization plan might exceed the endurance of county commissioners and city council members at a single public hearing. But since Commissioner Winnecke wants to initiate public discussion of the plan, and a full month has passed since the committee delivered it, let the discussions begin. After all, the more they hear up front, the less they must mull over later.

One part of the plan that should concern both voters and municipal officials is the chronology of elections for mayor and common council mandated by the plan. When invited by the reorganization committee to present specific recommendations for a model of consolidated city-county government, Mayor Jerry Abramson (Louisville, Ky.), gave impassioned and concise advice regarding the benefits of non-partisan elections of municipal officeholders. Yet after a modicum of initial enthusiasm for non-partisan elections, the reorganization committee opted instead for partisan elections of local officials, other than judges and school board members who already are non-partisan.

However, when one considers fact, there just is no reasonable argument for national partisan politics to influence municipal elections. And since Indiana laws specify the duties of elected officials, and each official swears to follow the law and carry out those duties, why should national party philosophies influence local elections or stain municipal offices? Moreover, unless they declare a political party on their campaign literature, it seems that the more successful and popular local officeholders are pretty much indistinguishable with regard to national party affiliations.

If the plan included Mayor Abramson’s recommendation for non-partisan elections, that also would remove the undesirable impact of straight ticket voting on municipal government, because then candidates more likely would win or lose on their own merit rather than blind allegiance to party politics. In fact, non-partisan elections might benefit municipal candidates by allowing them more freedom to attend a broader array of political and civic group functions as do the candidates for judge and school board. So, is Evansville truly not ready to outgrow its addiction to partisan municipal elections?

Now even if, and especially if, partisan elections remain part of the reorganization plan, the city council, the county commissioners, and the voters had better look long and hard at the plan’s mandated chronology of elections. As currently written, the plan requires the initial election of mayor and common council at the first general election following the voters’ approval of the referendum, with subsequent municipal elections every four years. Since the reorganization committee’s lawyer tells us the first possible spot for the merger referendum is on the 2012 ballot, that means the first election for mayor and council would be 2014, if the referendum passes. Thereby, the plan mandates a chronology of municipal elections coincidental with “off-presidential” years. So, think about what negative impact national politics had on local elections in 2006, and especially 2010.

Municipal elections should be held in odd-numbered years to promote a separation between national party politics and local government affairs. And municipal government should evolve away from national political influences by moving to non-partisan elections. When they hold their joint meetings, the county commissioners and city council hopefully will hear constructive input from the public and local officials on these and other issues, and will either modify the plan for the better or reject it altogether.

Bill Jeffers

VenuWorks Staffing in Evansville to include 25 full time and 300 part time positions

For Immediate Release: February 15, 2011

Contact: Steve Peters 515-232-5151

The New Evansville Arena, managed by VenuWorks, will open in November. VenuWorks will have an executive director on site as soon as possible. After the executive director is in Evansville, hiring can begin with sales and administrative positions followed by food and beverage, operations and event production staff members. It is anticipated that the venue will have about 25 full-time positions filled by the time the venue opens in November. Those who are interested in full-time work should monitor the VenuWorks website for forthcoming information on submitting applications.

VenuWorks will also be hiring roughly 300 part-time workers in areas of food service, box office, customer service, ushers, event production and custodial services. These positions will be posted on the VenuWorks website. There will also be a series of job fairs in Evansville as the opening gets closer.

BACKGROUND

VenuWorks provides comprehensive management, booking and marketing solutions for arenas, theatres and convention centers throughout North America. We are committed and innovative facility operators and presently manage of 36 separate facilities in 17 communities in 10 states. Based in Ames, IA the company was founded 14 years ago. For more information, please view www.venuworks.com.

IS IT TRUE that yesterday’s announcement by Douglas de Groot took the Vanderburgh party leadership by surprise? ….the select members of the local Tea Party are extremely pleased that Mr. de Groot entered the Republican primary race? ….that the Tea Party membership shall engage both Republican candidates for Mayor in open dialogue concerning serious issues facing the City of Evansville during the upcoming primary?

IS IT TRUE that Dr. Neil Troost has been asked to run as a Republican in the upcoming city election?….if he decides to run for elected office it would be for the At Large City Council seat?…that his passion is to see the city park system in Evansville and Vanderburgh County become a source of civic pride?…that the investment to bring our parks up to exemplary status and to keep them that way is a small fraction of the cost of the new Downtown Arena?…that visitors to the City of Evansville are more apt to judge our city as a place to live or invest by our parks than by a basketball stadium on Main Street?…that the policies that allowed the park system to turn into a neglected domain of drugs and prostitutes is the epitome of poor public policy?….that we bet the good people of Evansville would support a respectable budget to make and keep our parks beautiful and safe for families to enjoy?….that the current leadership and management of the Evansville Parks Department would be terrified of the prospect of an advocate to clean and maintain the parks like Dr. Neil Troost to be elected?

IS IT TRUE that the elected Vanderburgh County Surveyor Bill Jeffers published an excellent article today in the Evansville Courier and Press titled “Keep Elections in Odd Years”?…that the body of the article expands on much more than just election years?…that this article is a well thought out and superbly written observation on the irrelevance of national party agendas in local government?…that Mr. Jeffers also points out that the unification committee after engaging former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson on the issue of non-partisan elections summarily rejected his advice?…that the City County Observer would like very much to provide a link to this article but cannot because it is not published in the online version of the Courier?…that this article alone is worth many times the 75 cents that the daily Courier costs so please go buy one, borrow one, or visit the library to familiarize yourselves with this article?

Here is a link to the CCO version.

http://city-countyobserver.com/2011/02/17/the-reorganization-plan%E2%80%99s-potential-negative-impact-on-future-local-elections/