IS IT TRUE that there were 58 residential properties in the City of Evansville reported as having been sold in the Courier and Press yesterday?…that the highest sale price reported among those 58 homes was $30,000 and that the lowest price reported was for only $300?…that the median price of these 58 homes was $7,800?…that a number of these homes were in and around the Front Door Pride area and the areas north of the Lloyd Expressway and south of Diamond Avenue?…that this is quite a large sample of sales to show such low sale prices?…that this kind of data does not bode well for the local economy?…that we wonder why realtors and elected officials continue to crow about how the housing market in Evansville was not impacted by the recession with numbers like this being published?…that maybe there is a bit of denial going on within the self serving segments of our community?…that when 58 houses sell in legitimate transactions for a median price of $7,800 that there is a problem with real estate within the City of Evansville that Front Door Pride homes will not solve?

IS IT TRUE that the Chicago Tribune reported in May of 2009 that the median home price in Detroit had fallen to $7,500?…that even veteran market watchers were completely shocked at that number?…that based on the recent sales data for Evansville’s $7,800 median that we are also shocked?…that the comparisons to Detroit just continue to amaze us?…that neither number is likely to fully describe the markets in either city?…that they are stark reminders of just how low of a value is placed on residential properties in shrinking cities during challenging times?…that for the curious that the link to the story about the $7,500 per house median for Detroit is below?…that another shocking but informative article about the slide from $7,500 to $6,000 and how it compares to Danville, IL is also linked just below?

http://www.businessinsider.com/median-home-price-in-detroit-7500-2009-3

http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2009/06/medium-home-prices-in-detroit-fall-to.html

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer really hopes that the City of Evansville can find a way to stop following in the footsteps of the City of Detroit?…that the parallels are really getting scary?

IS IT TRUE that the consolidation committee has recommended maps for Council members of the proposed consolidated government based on the population of census tracts from the 2000 census?…that the demographics and the population distribution of Vanderburgh County have changed enough in 10 years to render the 2000 census to be obsolete and useless for such purposes?…that any actions taken on 2000 census data will be deemed to be irrelevant based on these changes?…that a complete new map needs to be drawn before any recommendations can be taken seriously?…that based on the new data that the currently unincorporated parts of the county will make up 3 of the “wards” if consolidation actually passes?…that with the rate of voter registration and actual voting that this will essentially create a situation where the county actually annexes the City of Evansville?…that this is what has been needed for some time?…that the City of Evansville needs to take lessons on governance from outside of its own borders?…that we can all thank the Vanderburgh County Surveyor, Mr. Bill Jeffers for an excellent article that has illuminated just how much of a difference that the population shifts of the last 10 years have made?…that in 10 more years the county will be even a larger part of the population of Vanderburgh County and an even more formidable area to be dealt with?

My facebook friend Mary K. (Mimi) Parker responded to my call to use the word Sheen as a verb with the term Sheenius. A Sheenius of course is a person who does something that the recently newsworthy Charlie Sheen may do. Lifting a half of a line from comedian Jeff Foxworthy I have come up with the following examples of Sheenius along with this makeshift definition.
Sheenius: A person who has a sense of grandiosity combined with denial in a way that one does not have to be a genius to recognize. Ex: “a person who claims to have tiger blood and Adonis DNA”

“If you are 5 feet tall and can’t jump yet you proclaim to the world that you will be an NBA star then you might be a Sheenius.”

“If you can’t add 2+2 but tell everyone you know that you will be accepted to the MIT College of Engineering, you might be a Sheenius.”

“If you claim that you can slam 8 shots of tequila in an hour and still pass a breathalyzer test then you might be a Sheenius.”

“If you think that spending $80 for an item you do not need that is on sale from its $100 regular price actually constitutes saving money then you might be a Sheenius.”

“If you make an argument that smoking is good for you and that second hand smoke will make hair grow on the head of a bald man then you might be a Sheenius.”

Please add to this list at will. Let’s make this go viral.

On January 11, 2011, the Evansville–Vanderburgh County Reorganization Committee delivered its final Plan of Organization for a merged city-county government to the Vanderburgh County Commissioners and the Evansville City Council. The plan proposes eight voting districts, each from which to elect a common council member and all from which to elect three at-large council members.

Under the committee’s voting district layout, the existing city council districts remain nearly the same as they are now, and unconsolidated area of Vanderburgh County becomes two additional council districts. The concept proposed by the committee intends to protect the county’s rural lifestyle and preserve the agricultural community’s political influence within the proposed consolidated government system.

However, since the committee based its voting district map on 2000 census data, the map became outdated when the U.S. Census Bureau released 2010 census data earlier this year. The new data show a dramatic shift of population into the unincorporated county over the past ten years. For example, the new census data show a drop since year 2000 of 4,153 in the city’s population even though Evansville annexed about sixteen hundred apartment residents living east of Burkhardt Road between the Lloyd Expressway and Morgan Avenue in 2008.

At the same time, the unincorporated county gained 11,934 people, and most of these transplanted urbanites located in newer, small lot subdivisions built since 1999 in previously rural Center and Scott townships. As a result, the area designated as District 8 on the reorganization committee’s map now houses a population of about 32,500, or about 10,000 people more than will be allowed for a single council district. And that means the plan must be amended to include a completely redrawn map comprised of voting districts with balanced population before the map will be approved by state and federal election commissions, and before a unified local government may be elected under the plan.

If the committee really intends to preserve the agricultural community’s political influence within the bounds of its own voting districts, and to create only 8 districts, the fact is there will be only one rural voting district rather than the two appearing in the current reorganization plan. Furthermore, the single rural district will wander from the southwest corner of the county in Union Township bottoms, thence north 16 miles through westernmost Perry and German townships before turning east 18 miles across Armstrong and northernmost Scott Township to the northeast corner of the county. Yet even this single gerrymandered district must include the Town of Darmstadt and enough other residential subdivisions to total the 22,500 people needed for a single voting district.

Essentially, the rural and agricultural community’s political impact on local government in Vanderburgh County will evaporate under consolidation.

The reorganization committee attempts to address the known need to completely redraw the proposed voting districts by employing a so-called transition board only after approval of the plan by referendum. And the current plan empowers the transition board to divest the city council and the county commissioners of their traditional and statutory authority to redistrict. Yes, the current plan hands over redistricting authority to twelve people including 2 city council members, 2 county council members, 1 county commissioner, the mayor, the sheriff, and 5 other persons, with no particular qualifications, appointed by those elected officeholders. And the plan allows the transition board to appoint additional members, also with no specific qualifications.

Do city council members and county commissioners really want relinquish their traditional and statutory redistricting responsibility to a mixed bag of elected and appointed persons? And would it not be more appropriate to include a correctly completed voting district map to the public as a part of the merger referendum package rather than have an ad hoc committee patch one together after the fact?

Bill Jeffers; Evansville, Indiana

See How the Indiana 8th District Compares with Other parts of the USA

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/06/weekinreview/20110306-happiness.html?ref=us

IS IT TRUE that the Lamasco Bar & Grill at 1331 West Franklin Street did an ad hoc experiment last night that resulted in a resounding success?…that Chicagoland’s Marrakesh Express, a Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young tribute band performed at Lamasco as a special date on the way to their Saturday night gig in the big city of Atlanta, GA?…that the BAND specifically said that the venue had to be NON-SMOKING for the evening so the vocalists would not damage their voices for the Atlanta performance?…that the NON-SMOKING experiment for the normally smoky Lamasco Bar was a sellout and a resounding success?…that every table was filled with people eating, drinking, and having a great time?…that there was a standing room crowd in front of the stage that was reminiscent of a musical experience right out of the late 60’s without the smoke?…that for one night Lamasco Bar provided a world class tribute band from Chicago in a NON-SMOKING atmosphere and IT WORKED?…that we encourage Lamasco to make this a regular thing and others to follow suit?…that Friday night March 4, 2011 the Lamasco Bar put on a lifestyle experience that drew professionals and that Evansville needs many more times like this?

IS IT TRUE that in a discussion held yesterday on a journey to do business in another city, some Evansville based entrepreneurs held a discussion on what Evansville needs to do to move forward and thrive?…that the question asked was “if your had both the money and the power to do something to make Evansville’s economy better, what would you do”?…that the first action agreed upon would be to establish and promote a VENTURE CAPITAL fund with the intention to invest in the equity if local ideas and emerging businesses?…that Evansville has no Angel Networks or Venture Capital firms and that this dearth drives many of our talented and ambitious people both young and old to other places to achieve their dreams?…that just in the car the travelers personally knew of roughly $1 Billion of local and somewhat recent wealth that has been generated from entrepreneurial activities?…that we need much more of that?

IS IT TRUE that the second action needed was agreed to be for at least one of the local universities to establish research facilities and offer advanced degrees in targeted industry knowledge generation?…that Evansville likes to call itself “Plastics Valley” and actually has around 200 businesses that derive their income from the plastics industry?…that neither of our local universities offers even a bachelor’s degree in Polymer Chemistry or Plastics Engineering?…that they should have been doing that for years?…that money and a research university are two of the vital ingredients to become a cluster for highly profitable businesses to form and prosper?…that these two steps would have a significant and sustainable positive impact on the local economy?…that as much as it is okay to be a center that makes things for businesses that are owned by outsiders, it would be fantastic to own the technology and the manufacturing expertise so the profits and the jobs will benefit Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that the realization that ownership of intellectual property, a thriving investment community, and advanced research facilities are the keys to bringing Evansville back to a relevance that it has not enjoyed since the 50’s has eluded our elected officials for way to long?…that the temptation to value a minimum wage JOB or batch of them over knowledge based JOBS and to squawk about it as though it will save our city has been the mode of operation of our elected officials for way to long?…that to have a thriving business base that can afford to pay living wages that these businesses first have to thrive?…that the best way to do that is to invent the world’s products and solve the world’s problems?…from that base the support functions will follow?

IS IT TRUE that the third thing discussed was to get very rapidly on with the business of repairing or replacing the disaster known locally as the combined sewer system?…that this is a looming yet unresolved financial obligation and repugnant condition that acts as repellent to businesses looking for a place to grow?…that there were many other things discussed that need to change but that these are the top three?…that more will be discussed in later columns?

Veterans Memorial Coliseum fundraising events
By Stephen R. Melcher

The Veterans Council of Vanderburgh County, Inc. is embarking on a fund raising campaign for a new 35’ flag pole, solar lighting, and landscaping. After researching the costs, we have set a budget of $5000 to complete this project. The flagpole will be placed in the front of the Coliseum at the southwest corner of the building.

We are seeking sponsors and any donations we can get. Those businesses, organizations and individuals who become a sponsor will be recognized on a plaque on marble stone as part of the landscaping around the flagpole. All donations will be recognized and appreciated. Donations are tax deductible.

Sponsorships

Gold Sponsors $1000 — Silver Sponsors $500 — Bronze Sponsor $250

Please make checks payable to the Veterans Council and mailed to: PO Box 3764, Evansville IN, 47708.
Mark your calendars every Friday night: The Veterans Memorial Coliseum we host a Bingo, the doors open at 4:00pm games start at 6:00pm.
Housing for homeless Veterans

At our Veterans Council of Vanderburgh County meeting on February 3, 2011 the Guest speaker was Stephanie TenBarge, Executive Director of Lucas Place II. Ms TenBarge provided information on Lucas Place II, housing for homeless Veterans. Studies indicate that 1/3 of the homeless are single veterans, who are not being served or are under-served by existing homeless programs. Attention and allowances will be made for the special needs of the veterans. Twenty-seven (27) one bedroom units are being built at Michigan and Garfield. She provided packets for each Council member organization providing further information and suggesting ways for each post to support the project, (i.e. sponsor a room). The Commander, who attended the ground breaking, requested the Council be kept informed on the progress project..

From Col D. G. Swinford, USMC, Ret and history buff

The first German serviceman killed in WW II was killed by the Japanese (China, 1937), the first American serviceman killed was killed by the Russians (Finland 1940); highest ranking American killed was Lt Gen Lesley McNair, killed by the US Army Air Corps. So much for allies.

The youngest US serviceman was 12 year old Calvin Graham, USN. He was wounded and given a Dishonorable Discharge for lying about his age. His benefits were later restored by an act of Congress.

Stephen R Melcher
Commander Vanderburgh County Veterans Council
US Army Veteran
Sgt First Class E-7

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?