Infrastructure Upgrades Handle Traffic Without Incident

Yesterday’s first ever eDebate between the front runners from each party for the Office of Mayor of Evansville drove our rapidly growing readership to record levels once again. This time we were ready for the traffic due to the addition of a dedicated server after last weeks record day for the City County Observer crashed our old solution. We should be able to double a couple of more times before having to add to the computing capacity again.

The number of site accesses yesterday was way above the number of votes that will be needed to win either primary or any seat for the Evansville City Council. There will be a series of eDebates sponsored by the Community Observer. Invitations to candidates for competitive primaries can expect invitations to participate in our next round of eDebates in the very near future.

Stay tuned for our announcement.

If Roberts is “atrocious” what word describes Wesselman Parks Restrooms

Could we all pause briefly to put the Mayor’s description of the “atrocious”, SMG management, in perspective? (Some of us still want to believe that words have meaning.)

Mr. Kiefer, if nothing other than delaying the inevitable, would you please lead a discussion in the civic understanding of “atrocious”? Our reporters aren’t interested in that word in the story. “Legal”, yes, they are all over that. “Atrocious” not so much.

For someone to read the Mayor’s memo, listen to your appeal for a delay, and then hear the few comments you had on the topic. Some of us may be scratching our heads wondering, what was the point.

At the very least, can you provide the business entities that deal with the County an idea of how you would define, “atrocious”?

Example:

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Let’s bring back into memory those images that Mr. Rector pointed out on TV to us. The shots of the restrooms, the fountains and the mechanical room.

Got those images fresh in your memory? OK.

Now, walk with me out of Robert’s parking lot, to the public park next door. If you’ve ever spent any quality time at Wessleman’s playing softball, volleyball or using the batting cages, you might need a drink or a restroom break.

Let me pause for a second. Because anyone that has been in that scenario knows exactly where I’m going with this discussion.

But back to our walk. Go into that Wessleman’s public restroom and take a good 360 degree mental image.

Now, do a comparative evaluation of the condition of that bathroom, against the average Robert’s bathroom.

Here’s the question. If we are, as a community, to describe that Robert’s experience as “atrocious”. What is the proper definition to describe the Wessleman’s park experience? (Yes, I’m stumped for a word, too.)

Anyway, lets get the heck out of that bathroom.

Now, stand outside the bathroom and take a good look at the water fountain. Comparative evaluation again, assuming Robert’s is the definition of “atrocious”, what is Wessleman’s?

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Now, don’t get me wrong here. I can fully understand, how a group of individuals, sitting in the corporate boardroom at Vectren headquarters, can come unanimously to a decision that broken water fountains are “atrocious”. Be that as it may. In any real way, was that discussion placed in perspective, of governmental budget capabilities? I just watched the County discuss capping their desired highly educated temporary help, at 12 – 14 dollars an hour with no benefits. “Atrocious”, depends on the context.

You see, the cognitive dissonance that we all feel about this situation needs to be put into perspective and the ongoing moral hazard avoided. Yes, I think there is risk of moral hazard because nobody is explaining how a contractor in decent standing one day can turn “atrocious” spectacle, overnight.

If the County is trying to save money where it can, when it can – i.e. not flushing the taxpayers money down the drain. Then a fountain or toilet that doesn’t work periodically is not an unexpected event, is it? (I rest comfortably at night confident that my utility bills leave plenty of cash to keep the Vectren water fountains and bathrooms fully functioning.)

So in addition to “atrocious”, I’m asking you to define acceptable public sector, “service levels”.

Example:

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Let’s say I’m in a service business, thinking about contracting with two Counties.

One County is known for level headed, consistent, service level expectations.

The other County has recently publicly labeled temporary appliance outages, “atrocious”, that resulted in a less experienced competitor brought in and a significant public display. While it raises exasperation, nothing changes.

Now do you think my proposals to those two Counties will be priced the same?

One County might lead me to significant legal expenses in defining precisely what the minute details in the expectations will contractually oblige me to meet. One County might put the public goodwill of my business name at significantly higher risk. One County might lead reasonable people to estimate basic labor and maintenance levels closer to what others might label, overkill – to avoid potential problems like this.

We don’t want this episode leading to higher contract services for the County and City, do we Mr. Kiefer?

–

If Mayor Weinzapfel feels competition is necessary – so be it.

But all this talk of competition and standards of service begs at least one question. How much extra are we paying for this new hotel, if it’s designs must handle a strict zero tolerance for bathroom and fountain outages or if maintenance rooms are not allowed the slightest tolerance for dual purpose storage capacity?

Dan Effinger
Evansville, IN

IS IT TRUE that Troy Tornatta will be holding his press conference tonight at 5:00 PM?…that the Vanderburgh County Commissioners will meet at precisely the same time at the Civic Center to begin the process to overturn soon to be candidate Tornatta’s signature accomplishment (reversal of anti-smoking ordinance) as a County Commissioner?…that irony is a beautiful thing?…that there are people in town who are expecting that Troy’s coach at USI and current basketball coach at Tennessee Bruce Pearl will join Troy in his announcement of his plans for the future?…that maybe, just maybe, Troy will not be announcing a run for Mayor?…that maybe, just maybe, Coach Pearl will be announcing that Troy will be his new assistance coach in charge of public relations at the University of Tennessee?

IS IT TRUE that one 2nd Ward Democratic candidate for City Council voted for the first time ever in the November, 2010 Vanderburgh County election? ….we ask him what took so long? ….we congratulate him for correcting the errors of his political ways and joining the world of voters?

IS IT TRUE the President and Vice President of SMG met yesterday with the Mayor of Evansville?….that we would like to have been a mouse in the corner to witness this spirited conversation between both parties?….that the above SMG executives also met one on one with elected City and County officials?

IS IT TRUE that a consortium of eight local contractors has filed a lawsuit against the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation?…that they are alleging that the EVSC found a way to dodge the open bidding requirement for public construction jobs by transferring property to a non-profit to have the work done?…that this is precisely what the EVSC did and that attorneys seem to concur that this move was legal?…that the maneuver is tricky and has been used in other locations both to SAVE MONEY and to expedite construction?…that these eight contractors are doing exactly the right thing by airing their grievances in a court of law?…that there is much curiosity in the City of Evansville about this case?

IS IT TRUE that a contract is now in place to demolish the rotting shell of the Executive Inn?…that we so not recall any call for bids going out for that task?…that John Kish has been quoted in public meetings as estimating that the cost to demolish this tattered facility will be 1.0 Million, then $1.2 Million, then $1.5 Million?…that we are quite curious as to what the real cost of demolition will be and whether or not this Million dollar plus project was competitively bid?

IS IT TRUE that it has now been 1,369 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 1,223 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 641 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?

Lloyd Winnecke and Rick Davis were kind enough to contribute to our new electoral series – the “eDebate”

One Republican. One Democrat. Five Questions.

Learn what the dividing issues of this election will be.
The future of Roberts Stadium.
Jobs.
Downtown Snow Removal.
Learn your mayoral candidates stances on these hot topics and more.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE WINNECKE VS DAVIS EDEBATE
POSTED ON COMMUNITY-OBSERVER.COM

In a surprising but strategic move America Online has agreed to purchase the Huffington Post, a pioneer in the Blogosphere for a staggering $315 Million. AOL’s strategy with this both defensive and offensive move is stated to be to Create a Premier Content Network With Local, National and International Reach

Arianna Huffington, founder and one of only two shareholders of the Huffington Post will lead the newly formed Huffington Post Media Group that intends to integrate all Huffington Post and AOL Content, including news, technology, local, multicultural, entertainment, video, community, and more into their daily news feed.

The New Combined Media Group Will Reach 117 Million Americans and 270 Million Globally. Prior to the deal with AOL, the Huffington Post which was founded in 2005 enjoyed a readership of 25 Million unique visitors per month.

Here is a link to the full story:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/07/aol-huffington-post_n_819375.html

If SMG was so bad, why keep them for 20 years?

Bob Cavalieri, the Senior Vice President for Business Development for SMG has supplied the City County Observer with his company’s response to the allegations that have been made by Mayor Weinzapfel that their maintenance has been “atrocious” and Dave Rector the man that Mayor Weinzapfel put in charge of the maintenance of Roberts Stadium has disparaged extensively to the Evansville press corps.

Mr. Cavalieri’s letter along with an official communication dated May 3, 2010 under the seal of the office of the Mayor of Evansville to Sandie Aaron of SMG in May where he praised SMG calling them a “great” company and gave her every indication that SMG would be managing the new Evansville Arena.

Here is a copy of the memo and Mayor Weinzapfel’s letter to SMG without bias or edit.

SMG_Response_Observer

By: Joe Wallace

Is Evansville to “sneaky but legal” governance what Silicon Valley is to innovation and Hollywood is to film making? It is really getting tiring to endure the news of issue after issue that has been decided by appointed committees for appointed commissions who magically come forward with recommendations that reflect the desires of the people affectionately known as the “powers that be”.

This week, in yet another quietly hatched deal the public and even elected officials of Evansville learned that the decision about who will manage the new Arena was a fait accompli. Of course the process has been asserted by Arena project manager John Kish as legal. Other legal scholars are not in agreement with Mr. Kish but that is immaterial. This scheme was designed to sidestep the lens of public scrutiny or even the oversight of elected officials of Evansville and Vanderburgh County.

As it turned out this decision was not irreversible as several elected officials including City Councilman John Friend who was one of the appointed members of the recommendation committee plead with the Evansville Redevelopment Commission to postpone the vote and involve the City Council, and elected officials from Vanderburgh County. This time the ERC listened and postponed the pre-agreed upon decision until February 15th.

Hopefully the elected officials of the City Council, the County Commissioners, and the County Council will take this opportunity to inject themselves into this “sneaky but legal” process by any means necessary and legitimize it with openness and oversight. A diversity of minds and sound open deliberation should emerge with the best decision for the management of the Arena. That decision may very well be the same decision that was recommended by the appointed Advisory Committee but this time it will have the support that only inclusive processes result in.

Mr. Kish’s assertions of technical legality are the same weakening and embarrassing words that have been used to justify the “sneaky but legal” meeting to take the Homestead Tax Credit from the homeowners of Vanderburgh County. They are the same words used to justify using a convoluted scheme to pay Tom Barnett a competitive salary and to purchase a parking lot at the McCurdy that still awaits the first sounds of construction.

Has “sneaky but legal” become a part of the culture of the City of Evansville or is it just our government? Do the people of Evansville expect openness from local government or is the business as usual of manipulating scenarios to avoid the spirit of the law while following the letter of the law an acceptable way to be governed?

The people who were appointed to the Advisory Committee are to my knowledge all fine people who give regularly of their time to try and make this a better community. Their service is valuable and we should all be thankful that talented professionals are willing to serve in this capacity. The unanswered questions at this point are “who created and formed this advisory committee”, and “who appointed the members”. When those answers are known legal minds can definitively state whether or not Indiana’s open door laws truly apply.

Time and time again the machinations of local government find themselves in a position of having to explain away “sneaky but legal” actions that just don’t seem right to a casual observer. This time the scheme was designed to pull the wool over the eyes of the City Council, the County Commissioners, and the County Council. Next time and history would lead us to believe that there will be a next time, who knows where the “sneaky but legal” intent to deceive may be directed.

Just because something is legal does not mean it is right. The government of the City of Evansville is building a reputation for us as the “Sneaky but Legal” capital of America. Is this how the people of Evansville want to be defined and governed or is more transparency and public dialog preferred? I for one would prefer more openness.

If we never have to endure another convoluted explanation about why some sneaky action really is legal from our local elected officials we will all be better off for it.

Good afternoon and thank-you for taking time out of your day to show support for my candidacy. My name is Brent Grafton and I am running for Evansville City Council to represent the 5th Ward.

In the last two years many political commentators have focused on change… My friends we do not need change, we already have it, what we need are decision makers who recognize the change and have the thoughtfulness, the experience, and the courage to meet the challenges that change presents.

The question is not how do we change our world but how do we respond to the changes that have already happened… do we face them, recognize them and methodically work to adjust our new lifestyles to these changes or do we just continue to do business as usual and allow those changes to explode in our face…

Around 1440 AD, a German tradesman working in his home applied a technology that he used in his profession as a goldsmith to create the first metal movable type printing press. Today we know his invention by his name, the Gutenberg Press.

Within 50 years there were over two hundred cities in Europe that had printing presses that could print a thousand times more pages-per-day than before. Eighty years later, when another German, Martin Luther, posted his ninety-five thesises on the Wittenberg church door there were over two hundred cities in Europe that had the technology to print his message in local languages for all citizens to read.

The changes that started in a small home shop of a German goldsmith finally culminated in the collapse of a European political system that was over a thousand years old.

Today, FEB 2011, resulting from a similar human endeavor by two men in their garages in
Silicon Valley in early 70’s, we are watching in real time, a collapse of political power in Egypt fed also by the frustrated expectations of citizens. This invention, the iPhone accesses social media giving each individual the ability to literally communicate with millions of “friends” in an instant has brought our world to the brink of revolution three hundred years faster than the Guttenberg press.

It is ours to decide TODAY, do we acknowledge these changes and work to set in motion a process of updating our government’s response time OR ignore it and function as if “instant messaging” did not exist and try to conduct municipal governing “as we have always done it” . If we do this wrong, we will all face the unsettling collapse of the government that has served us for the last two hundred years.

I believe the City Council’s NUMBER 1 PRIORITY is to listen to the concerns of our citizens. The sharp stick of a hypodermic needle in the finger of a child in an Evansville city playground sandbox is simply not acceptable. We must work together to consider all informed solutions and then lead our community in solving these real problems.

The Evansville City Council’s CONSTITUTIONAL ASSIGNMENT is to make the laws that govern our lives, our opportunities, our safety, and our commerce. Our laws must match our community’s needs in this NEW ENVIRONMENT.

If we want a peaceful safe and prosperous community we must systematically work through the laws that help us and remove the laws that hurt us… As your representatives our responsibility is to lead our citizens in solving the problems that we as individuals cannot solve.

Today there are nearly 8,000 registered small businesses in Vanderburgh County. We have innovators working in their garages to bring us the next generation of technology. Our current zoning laws were established sixty years ago during an age of big box heavy manufacturing. We need to study, listen and then restructure our zoning laws to encourage the growth and prosperity of these garage innovators.

JUST THINK! If each of these small businesses could hire one person, we would have two Toyotas and solve our own local unemployment problem.

Our geographical location is a single day’s drive from 80% of the US population. Why can’t we take a resource like Roberts Stadium and change it into a small McCormick Place and target mid-sized trade fairs that are too small to pay the rent on Chicago’s extreme and massive trade facility?

Evansville is full of faithful, industrious people, undergirded by a spirit of goodness. If you have ever worked on a Habitat house or set up a booth at the fall festival you would know what our citizens are capable of IF they are invited to the party.

As a government we need to do a much better job of incorporating our citizenry into solving the challenges that we now face as a community.

The old political platform for CHANGE no longer fits. Change is HERE.

The changes that are upon us, carry with them great opportunity for good and great possibility for danger. Our government must embrace these new technologies to pull our citizens back into the process, so that our government in fact reflects the values of our community.

I for one will work to maximize the good opportunities and strive for good inclusive public policy.

If you live in the 5th Ward I would appreciate your vote. If you do not live in the 5th ward I would appreciate you support.

IS IT TRUE that 2nd Ward City Councilwoman, Missy Mosby brags about spending her money with business located in the 2nd Ward that she serves?….that she lists six (6) 2nd Ward businesses that she claims to patronize on her Facebook Wall? ….that 4 of the 6 businesses listed on her Facebook Wall are not located in the 2nd Ward as she claims?….the following 4 business that are not located in the 2nd Ward are Buehler’s Buy Low, Rick’s Sports Bar, Don’s Marathon and Frank Jr’s BBQ? …..before Miss Mosby starts to actively campaign for re-election to the Evansville City Council she better look at her 2nd Ward map? ….all we have to say about this is—WOW?

IS IT TRUE that in the debate that was sparked by the introduction of a strengthening of the smokefree workplace ordinance for the City of Evansville in March of 2010 that Councilwoman Mosby was adamant that she had spoken with many of her 2nd Ward constituents on the issue?…that Councilwoman Mosby also carried some petition like documents to the City Council meeting with her and added them as evidence that smoking is just fine in public places?…that Councilwoman Mosby was a member of Team Weinzapfel and a defender of the “right” to smoke in public?…that no case about smoking has ever prevailed on the basis of the Bill of Rights?…that Miss Mosby could use a lesson on both the geographic boundaries of her own 2nd Ward and on the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution?…that we wonder if the signatures that she carried with her were really gathered in the 2nd Ward where she lives or in some other of the other wards where she obviously goes to spend her money?

IS IT TRUE that recently defeated candidate for Vanderburgh County Commissioner Troy Tornatta made a little pre-announcement that he would be making a statement in 48 hours regarding his immediate political future?…that was more than 48 hours ago that he made that statement?…that missing your first self imposed deadline is no way to start a campaign?…that Mr. Tornatta in his first significant act as president of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners aggressively led a 2 – 1 party line vote to reverse a smoking restriction ordinance?…that action put Vanderburgh County into a very small and exclusive fraternity of places that have reversed a smoking restriction?…that if Team Troy is forming to make a run at the office of Mayor of Evansville that it may include the other members of the Evansville City Council who voted NO on strengthening the smoking ordinance?…that if Team Troy forms that it will most likely include Missy Mosby, B. J. Watts, John Friend, and Don Walker, the other incumbent Democrats who staked their position and took their stand AGAINST progressive smokefree workplace laws in 2010?

IS IT TRUE that 4th Ward Evansville City Councilwoman Connie Robinson broke from the pack in 2010 and made a most passionate testimonial before her affirmative vote for the smokefree workplace resolution?…that Councilwoman Robinson surprised everyone in the room with her resolute position when she exclaimed “I AM MY BROTHER’S KEEPER”, I vote yes?…that Councilwoman Robinson earned the respect of many people with that speech and that vote?…that it will be interesting to see if Councilwoman Robinson joins her former members of Team Weinzapfel on what may be a soon to be formed Team Troy or if she maintains her newfound independent spirit?…that Councilwoman Robinson will be the overwhelming favorite to retain her City Council seat in the 4th Ward with or without a team affiliation as her many years of service are recognized by her constituents?

IS IT TRUE that the Vanderburgh County Commissioners will be starting the process to pass a comprehensive smokefree workplace resolution on Tuesday night February 8th?…that this will undo the damage done by the 2009 vote to overturn the old smoking ordinance?…that the world will not recognize this for a couple of more years?…that the only uncertainly is whether Commissioner Melcher will join Commissioners Winnecke and Abell in voting yes?…that a unanimous vote on such an important public health and economic development issue would send a strong message to the City of Evansville and even the State of Indiana that there is at least one elected body in SW Indiana that is dedicated to bringing their area of governance into the modern world?

IS IT TRUE that in his kick off speech yesterday at the Civic Center that Brent Grafton, local entrepreneur and candidate for the Republican nomination for Evansville City Council from the 5th Ward was asked a question about his position on a comprehensive smokefree workplace ordinance?…that he answered that he supports this action?…that if the vote from the 5th Ward was the vote that shot down the smoking ordinance of 2010?…that a survey of the 5th Ward conducted last summer indicated that 80% of the constituents support a smokefree workplace ordinance?…that if Mr. Grafton would have been a sitting Councilman last year that Evansville would already have a stronger smokefree workplace law?

IS IT TRUE that Mr. Grafton also spoke to the subject of jobs, Roberts Stadium, and on the general state of the local economy?…that he surprised everyone with a simple yet achievable idea to leverage the skills and work ethic of the people of Evansville to redirect the use of Roberts Stadium in a way that the people of Evansville who wish to add to their incomes and increase their prosperity may choose to do so?…that details shall be forthcoming?