IS IT TRUE? Part 2 April 26, 2011

IS IT TRUE that Evansville Arena project manager John Kish reported to the Evansville City Council last night that the Arena was on time and on budget?…that the $127.5 original budget is on target and that the Arena is scheduled for a fall opening as Mr. Kish planned two years ago?…that when it comes to the Arena itself that all seems to be according to plan and validates and supports hiring Kish at what some people thought was an exorbitant rate to manage the project?…that up to this point that the City County Observer congratulates Mr. Kish on doing HIS JOB well and encourages him to keep it up through completion?

IS IT TRUE that the Arena is not an isolated project and that as skilled as Mr. Kish is as a manager that the greater management job of orchestrating the entire MLK Entertainment complex has not gone so well?…that the Executive Inn Dilemma that was exposed by the City County Observer cost the City of Evansville over $10 Million to purchase the Executive Inn?…that this $10M has not been included in any of the Arena budgets that we have been privy to?…that excluding the cost of the Executive Inn from the Arena project seems like intentional oversight?…that the grand maestro of the MLK Entertainment Complex also never included the eventual changes needed at Roberts Stadium in the Arena budget?…that sky bridges between the Arena, a new Hyatt Place Hotel, and the Centre were never included in the Arena budget?…that when all of the needed “non-Arena” direct spending is added up it is feasible that the “non-Arena” cost of the Arena will be over $20 Million?

IS IT TRUE that downtown Evansville is also suffering the economic consequences of having no downtown Convention Hotel for a period of at least three years?…that Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau records indicated over 10,000 room nights that were lost in a single year because of this?…that this revenue shortfall hits every hospitality provider and restaurant in greater Evansville right in the pocket?…that some of these conventions lost will never come back?…that the total cost of the Executive Inn Dilemma to the City of Evansville may eventually be as high as the Arena itself when all of the tangible and intangible costs are tallied up?…that if the grand maestro would have hired either Mr. Kish or someone like him to lead the band instead of working in a vacuum that the Executive Inn Dilemma could have been managed much better and maybe even avoided altogether?

IS IT TRUE that the Executive Inn removed over 600 hotel rooms from downtown Evansville rendering it quite limited as a convention destination?…that the new Hyatt Place will have about 220 rooms still somewhat short of the Big E’s total?…that there is a building within an easy walk of the MLK Entertainment Complex that could supplement the number of available rooms by about 100?…that the McCurdy as an apartment complex project is not one that the financial numbers work on?…that the McCurdy was built as a hotel and would make a very fine vintage hotel in downtown Evansville?…that a vintage hotel like the Seelbach and the Brown in Louisville or the Canterbury in Indianapolis is the possibly the only way to make the investment needed work for cash flow purposes at the McCurdy?…that four years of waiting for the financing of a project that makes no sense is enough and that the McCurdy needs to be dealt with in a sustainable manner without relying on government subsidies to exist?

IS IT TRUE that after 10 years without following a master plan that it is time for a new administration to show some vision and start putting together the substance of a new master plan for all of Evansville as opposed to just a few blocks?

EPD Activity Report April 25 2011

Seeks to Heal Party After the Primaries

The following letter was distributed to Vanderburgh County Democrats by Chairman Mark Owen yesterday.

Dear Friends,

Based on the current intra-party primary races, we have decided to postpone our annual Lifetime Achievement Awards scheduled for this weekend.

We will be setting the new date shortly after the primary.

This event, an annual celebration to honor outstanding Democrats, will also be an opportunity to re-unite all Democrats after the primary is over.

Thank you,

Mark R. Owen, Chairman
Vanderburgh County Democratic Party

IS IT TRUE? April 26, 2011

IS IT TRUE that on Monday afternoon after the City County Observer called for assurances that our FLOOD GATES were in a known location and operational that the City of Evansville sprung into action to get those gates in place?…that the CCO was prompted to call for these assurances by a source very close to the situation who was concerned that the maintenance of said FLOOD GATES was lacking like just about every other thing in Evansville that needs maintenance?…that the FLOOD GATES that we were asking about are not the recently installed ones down by AZTAR?…that the FLOOD GATES of interest to the CCO are the ones that work with the old levee system that was build after the 1937 flood?…that we have not heard any report about these FLOOD GATES being installed?

IS IT TRUE that the IS IT TRUE Part 2 yesterday had the highest single day traffic of any story other than the breaking of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau Bachanallian Wine Festival?…that the story of Christmas parties past that was published yesterday is a story that the CCO declined to publish 2 months ago so the new Board of Directors could get on about the business of repairing the CVB and hiring a new Executive Director?…that we congratulate them on finding someone and wish him the best in his new position?…that Evansville is a bit larger than Galena, IL that is only about 3,500 people?…that most of the astronauts came from small towns so we expect no Mayberry style problems with Bob Warren?

IS IT TRUE that during the infamous 1937 flood that the Ohio River crested in Evansville at 19 feet above flood stage at 53.74 feet?…that on January 24, 1937 that martial law was declared in Evansville and 4,000 WPA workers came to town to help with the flooding?…that over 100,000 Hoosiers were left homeless by the 1937 flood?…that after the 1937 flood that the Evansville Vanderburgh Levee Authority District was established, which built a system of earth levees, concrete walls, and pumping stations meant to protect the city?…that the 1937 flood followed what at the time was the wettest month in Evansville history when nearly 15 inches of rain fell?

IS IT TRUE that April 2011 is flirting with the 1937 records?…that through Sunday April 24th there were just over 10 inches of rain recorded here?…that with the expectation of 6 to 9 inches over the course of this week that the rain total will exceed the total for the month that helped to cause the 1937 flood?…that even with the rain and water that Evansville is still just 2.4 feet above flood stage but that Newburgh and Mt. Vernon are nearly 10 feet above flood stage?…that in Evansville today that flood stage is 42 feet a full 9 feet above the flood levels of 1937?…that the system of dams on the Ohio River and operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers do us a great service?…that we are hoping that our FLOOD GATES are in working order and that they serve us well if the need arises?

IS IT TRUE that the CCO will not endorse candidates period for the primary season?…that if we were in the endorsement business that we would consider the entire team and not split the support positions at for the person at the top of the ticket?…that the Courier and Press has endorsed Rick Davis for the Democratic nomination for Mayor but has endorsed candidates for City Council that are opposing Mr. Davis with every breath they take?…that to endorse candidates of the machine is to support the machine in what will surely be an effort to blunt every initiative that a Mayor Davis may put forward?…that keeping the block of Team Weinzapfel voters in charge of the Evansville City Council is the antithesis of everything that Rick Davis has campaigned for?…that supporting both Rick Davis and the City Council slate of the machine that has opposed him in every way is somewhat conflicted?…that elections make strange bedfellows?

Favors of any kind are grounds for a Bribery Charge

Any person in a position of power is prone to being a target for corrupt influence. People who wish to influence the political field, change the outcome of a trial, or have other decisions made in their favor may try to bribe an official. Bribery is a criminal act that involves offering goods or services, usually money, in exchange for swaying the decisions or actions of a person in a public station. Under Florida law, any form of bribery is illegal. Anyone who is discovered offering or accepting a bribe may be arrested for bribery.

Why Bribery is a Crime

Bribery of a public official is taken especially seriously because officials hold unique positions of power. Depending on their station, an official may have wide-ranging and significant control over major actions or decisions within the government. Taking a bribe is a violation of the oath that all officials agree to uphold when they accept their positions. It also allows one individual, the briber, to exert control over the government for his or her personal gain. Historically, states with more corrupt governments have greater crime rates, less effective justice systems, and fewer personal freedoms.

What Constitutes Bribery?

When an individual offers a bribe to a public official, one or more parties may be charged with bribery depending on the circumstances. For an act of bribery to occur, a transaction does not necessarily have to take place. A briber can be charged for simply offering a bribe, even if s/he never intended to actually go through with it. Any official who accepts a bribe or suggests that s/he can use an official position to exert influence in the briber’s favor could also be charged. Even if the briber never actually delivers the goods or services to the official, and even if the official never carries out the desired action for the bribe, both may find themselves charged with bribery.

Criminal Punishment

In the state of Florida, any instance of bribery involving a public official is classified as a felony. Specifically, bribery of a public official is a felony of the second degree, the penalties for which may include:

Imprisonment: Up to 15 years
Monetary fines: Up to $10,000
Community service
Registration as a convicted felon

Suspension or removal of the convicted official from office. A single bribery charge is a grave accusation that could have lasting effects on your life if you are convicted. As a public official or briber you may find yourself professionally ostracized and unable to find a job. A felony conviction will remain on your criminal record for the remainder of your life and could have lasting effects even many years later.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3545548

DATE: April 25, 2011
RELEASE DATE: Immediate
SUBJECT: Evansville CVB Board Meeting Today
CONTACT: Barbara McCarty – 812-598-8565/ Mike Schopmeyer 423-3183

ECVB Board Elects New Executive Director

Evansville, In. – The Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau (ECVB) Board of Commissions voted unanimously Monday to extend an offer for the Executive Director position to Robert L. Warren. Following Monday’s public meeting, Warren accepted the offer and is targeting the end of May as a start date in Evansville.

Warren comes to Evansville from Visitgalena.org, an organization focused on destination marketing for the city of Galena, Ill. He previously served as executive director of the CVBs in Galveston, Texas, and Panama City Beach, Fla., as well as the Bay County Tourist Development Council. Warren has more than 22 years leading other destination marketing organizations and has extensive private sector marketing experience prior to his convention career track.

“I’m pleased the ECVB board has the confidence to bring me to the community. I look forward to partnering with the board, staff and local officials to take our CVB to the next level,” Warren said. “I want to learn from the local hotel and hospitality staffs developing partnerships to ultimately grow the variety of visitors to our area. I know there is a solid foundation in Evansville, and I plan to engage our CVB in a new, positive direction benefiting the entire region.” The ECVB Board cited Warren’s extensive experience leading other convention and visitors bureaus and his desire to drive accountability as primary reasons to extend Warren an offer.

“We are excited about welcoming Bob to Evansville and look forward to partnering with him to grow our CVB,” said ECVB President Steve Schaefer. “This completes an exhaustive search to fill the position. We will immediately engage him to lead a new strategic planning process and in the selection of a new advertising agency for the bureau. The Evansville region has much to offer and we look forward to working with our local officials and new executive director to market the area as a destination.”

SearchWide executive recruitment company will complete its contract with the ECVB by leading the ECVB board through the completion of the hiring process. SearchWide conducted an extensive search including local, regional and national candidates spanning the months the position had been open.

About the ECVB
The Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau (ECVB) serves as the official tourism organization for Evansville and Vanderburgh County dedicated to market and support the local hotels and attractions by developing and facilitating the convention and visitor industry in Evansville. For more information, contact 800-433-3025 or visitevansville.com

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Galena, Illinois Director Warren to be Offered Executive Directors Position

The City County Observer has learned that the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau has approved and offer of employment for the position of Executive Director replacing Marilee Fowler who was left that position over a year ago.

An offer for this position has been approved to be extended to Robert (Bob) Warren of Galena, Illinois. Mr. Warren is referenced by the Galena Chamber of Commerce as the Director of VisitGalena.org a non-profit dedicated to promoting tourism in Galena.

According to census data, Galena is the county seat of, and largest city in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, with a population of 3,429 in 2010. Galena is located in the northwest corner of the State of Illinois right on the Iowa border and only a few miles from Wisconsin. Galena was recently featured by Yahoo Travel as one of 10 “Time Warp Towns”, along with Paducah, Kentucky.

Time-warp towns according to Colleen Kane of CNBC are those out-of-time discoveries that make for road-trip gold: downtowns populated with of former Woolworths-turned- antiques booth malls, neon signs for Rheingold or Schaeffer, gingerbread detailing, town squares, monuments, cobblestones, and/or apple pie! The buildings where the local history was made are still standing, and if you squint it seems like you’ve gone back in time.

The salary that Mr. Warren is being offered has been reported to be in the $82,000 to $86,000 range.

EPD Activity Report April 24 2011

IS IT TRUE PART 2 April 25, 2011 WHERE ARE OUR FLOOD GATES?

IS IT TRUE that the National Weather Service has used the word “CATASTROPHIC” to describe the type of flash flooding that may be coming to greater Evansville in the coming days along with up to 9 more inches of rain?…that the ground is at full saturation and that all of the new rain is now running off into any ditch, field, creek, or river available?…that some roads are already closed due to flooding?…that the City of Evansville may have a need to test the floodgates that are a vital part of the floodwall that surround the City to protect us all from “CATASTROPHIC” flooding?

IS IT TRUE that there are several key design areas in the Evansville levee system that require the installation of FLOOD GATES when water levels are projected to be at seriously high levels?…that if there is ever going to be a need for these bought and paid for FLOOD GATES that this just may be the week?…that we cross our fingers and trust that such a vital pieces of our functional safety net are in good working order, are in a known location, and that the City of Evansville has trained people on staff and standing by to install these FLOOD GATES to protect the people of Evansville according to the responsibility accepted by the stewards of the city when these FLOOD GATES were purchased?…that we really hope that this emergency flood protection mechanism is being properly maintained and has not been a part of the deferred maintenance program that has ruled over our parks and roads in recent history?...that the City County Observer calls for and would appreciate it if the Weinzapfel Administration would publically reassure the people of Evansville that our FLOOD GATES are ready to protect us?

IS IT TRUE that Main Street was converted to a walkway over 30 years ago?…that the construction of the support structure for the serpentine pavers was designed to accommodate pedestrians and not traffic?…that the potholes and indentions on the north side of Main St. where driving occurs are due largely to the fact that cars are now driving on a walkway?…that when Main Street is reversed that the other side will do the same thing?…that to really make a walkway into a driveway involves a complete removal and replacement with a design that is appropriate for automotive use?…that we wonder if anyone on the payroll of the City of Evansville is tending to this coming problem with the increased traffic that the opening of the Arena is promising to bring?

IS IT TRUE that just yesterday a frequent player at Casino Aztar was seen at an Easter gathering with his shoes wrapped in cloth booties?…that when asked about that fashion statement this frequent player stated that the carpets in that D$%# Boat are so filthy that it ruins his carpets when he comes home?…that when coming home from Aztar this frequent player dons the shoe covers to protect his home from the filth?…that his clothes most likely come home the same way?…that we are certain that this is not an isolated incident?…that we surely hope that Casino Aztar is not following the example of the Evansville Parks and Recreation Department in neglecting to do day to day cleaning and maintenance?…that it sounds like the litter and filth problem is finding its way indoors too?…that if we are to capitalize on the recent attention being paid by the citizens of Evansville to clean this place that the business community needs to get on board and do some cleaning too?…that this frequent player at Aztar has let management know about this Filth Dilemma?…that we encourage all responsible people to do something to correct this situation?

IS IT TRUE? April 25, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer has no intention to endorse any candidate for any office as it is our policy to report the positions of the candidates and encourage the people of Evansville to think for themselves and make an informed choice in each race as individuals?

IS IT TRUE that we wonder why the Mayor of Evansville is pushing so hard to a have signed labor agreement between the City of Evansville and our outstanding fire fighters by April 29, 2011?…that it is our guess that this is because of “pure political reasons”?

IS IT TRUE that we wonder why the Mayor of Evansville never sends his internal office e-mail to City Councilman Don Walker?….that we have been told that Mayor Weinzapfel thinks Councilman Walker is a “City County Observer MOLE”? …..that Mr. Walker isn’t a CCO MOLE? ….that we can admit that the CCO has at least 132 well placed “MOLES” that are elected and non-elected individuals who provide services or are employed at the Vanderburgh/Evansville Civic Center?

IS IT TRUE that the Easter Parrots were squawking again about CREATING JOBS?…that the big jobs plan seems to have morphed into doing exactly what has been done in the past?…that it doesn’t take much thinking to come up with a “IF IT AIN’T BROKE DON’T FIX IT” initiative?…that while the job creation engine of Evansville may not be broken but that it surely is in need of some repairs and a tune up?…that the Evansville Job Creation Engine is just like the Evansville Parks System when it comes to maintenance and creativity?…that beyond the platitudes there is nothing YET from the candidates for Mayor of Evansville when it comes to a JOBS PLAN?

IS IT TRUE that there is one department in which the City of Evansville has a very good track record of minimizing the unemployment rate?…that during the last decade that for every job that left Evansville at least one person left with it?…that the machine that drives the population from our fair city is actually providing a service in keeping the unemployment rate low as compared to growing cities that must add jobs to keep the rate the same?…that in a city that has 50,000 jobs and loses 5,000 of those jobs that the unemployment rate will increase by 10% UNLESS all 5,000 of those people and their families pack their bags and head to another city to live?…that if everyone that loses a job leaves town that we will statistically be able to claim that “we have better unemployment rates that other places”?…that is a technically correct statement but that it sends the wrong message about a faltering economy?

IS IT TRUE that in the first decade that the population of the City of Evansville shrunk by about 4,000 people?…that the labor force as reported by the US Census shrunk by 2,789?…that Evansville is keeping its unemployment rate down by driving people out?…that one of the features of a JOBS PLAN that hopefully one of our candidates will come up with needs to address BRAIN DRAIN, and population loss in general?

IS IT TRUE that there are now 1,543 absentee ballots out there for the 2011 City of Evansville primaries?…that nearly 80% of these absentee ballots will be casted in the Democratic Primary?…that the candidates that appeal to traditional absentee voters would seem to have a decided advantage in next Tuesday’s primary?