IS IT TRUE? July 7, 2011

IS IT TRUE that for the fifth day in a row the trailing calculation for time online using the 3rd party measurements of Alexa.com and trafficestimate.com has the City County Observer slightly ahead of the Courier & Press?…that we continue to be pleased but also feel somewhat like the Milan High School Indians when they took the lead on larger and heavily favored Muncie Central to take the Indiana state basketball championship?…that we do not anticipate any movie deals coming our way but do relish the underdog role?

IS IT TRUE that yet another idea has come forth that may rescue the old Greyhound Bus Station?…that the group called Indiana Landmarks is hoping to place an office in the classic art deco building because of its perceived historical importance?…that the key to this rescue will lie in the local financial support that can be mustered to refurbish the building and then pay for the operational costs after the building is up to snuff?…that there will be room for other tenants in the building and that if a permanent outdoor market set up is established (like Owensboro is currently building) adjacent to the Greyhound Station that there may just be some commercial success in the block’s future?…that we must emphasize that this is a non-profit that is basically saying “Evansville, if you fix this building we will rent an office in it from you”?…that this is not a white knight with deep pockets bailing out an old downtown building?…that this is a good organization that is offering Evansville a chance and a vision to actually do something that has been talked about for 5 years now?…that if we as a community do not get behind this effort and make it happen that it is time to tear the building down?…that the same administration that is counting the seconds to tear down Roberts Stadium has been holding a rabbit’s foot about the Greyhound for 5 years now?…that here is our chance Evansville, do we want the bus station repaired or not?…that we are supportive of any and all efforts that step forward to raise some money for this?…that Evansville may COUNT THE CITY COUNTY OBSERVER IN WITH FREE ADVERTISING TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT?

IS IT TRUE that the dust clouds are still rising over the final solution and dissolution that the 4 year effort to get a downtown Convention Hotel culminated in yesterday?…that four years ago when a proud Mayor Weinzapfel announced that Browning would be building a 4-Star hotel to replace the Executive Inn everyone was a little star struck that this could be possible?…that the project has been all downhill from there and that today the four year effort has degraded to the point that TAXPAYER DOLLARS are being committed to clean up the 10 foot pile of rubble and there is no contract in place?…that the new RFP was published alongside sheriff sale notices and other public bid contract opportunities like patching holes and painting outbuildings?…that yesterday was a TAIL BETWEEN THE LEGS DAY for the dog called the City of Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that the biggest question that is still nagging the CCO and many of our readers is how perfectly competent people can turn into mush when they find themselves appointed to government commissions or even elected to public office?…that we wonder why none of the financially savvy members of the Evansville City Council raised a red flag to the VETTING issue?…that we suspect that the red flag was raised but that the warnings were net heeded?…that we equally wonder how bankers and accountants on the Evansville Redevelopment Commission would casually ignore everything that they do in their professional lives about VETTING when they enter the Civic Center?…that whatever circumstances that cause well trained and well intentioned people to cast both professional and common sense aside when placed into positions of stewardship over public dollars MUST BE ELIMINATED?…that an uncompromising VETTING PROCESS that is adopted by both the ERC and the Evansville City Council would be a positive step forward to correct this cognitive dissonance that seems to afflict our elected and appointed leaders?

IS IT TRUE that the most disturbing question from a reader is “how many other things are as messed up as the hotel project and the McCurdy that are just not yet understood yet”?…that is a question that begs for answers?…that it is time for the CONE OF INCOMPETENCE to be removed from the Civic Center roof?

IS IT TRUE? July 6, 2011 SPECIAL EVENING EDITION

IS IT TRUE that the last act of the classic play that has turned into a cross between a tragedy and a Three Stooges Marathon played itself out at the meeting of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission?…that all of the commissioners were in attendance to watch the finale and did their part by voting 5 – 0 to rescind the agreement with Woodruff Hospitality LLC that functionally rescinded itself some time ago due to internal squabbling between investors and simply the weakness of the project itself?…that it has only been about 6 months since this same Evansville Redevelopment voted 5 – 0 to award the downtown Convention Hotel deal to Woodruff Hospitality LLC over White Lodging of Hammond, Indiana that built the new downtown Convention Hotel in Fort Wayne?…that not one elected official was in the room or on the committee 6 months ago and that not one elected official bothered to attend yesterday’s meeting?…that not one member of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission brought up the issue of VETTING 6 months ago when Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel was triumphantly announcing the unanimous decision of the ERC that he had made a deal to get Evansville a downtown Convention Hotel?

IS IT TRUE that with a CPA, a commercial loan officer, and a pawn broker all sitting on the Evansville Redevelopment Commission that we are somewhat mystified as to why there was no VETTING whatsoever for the developer before voting 5 – 0 to award the contract?…that we wonder if the CPA on the ERC has ever been involved in reading a pro-forma and questioning its assumptions?…that we wonder if the commercial loan officer has ever prepared a presentation for a loan committee and done the due diligence required to make a recommendation to either make or not make a loan to an applicant?…that to prosper as a pawn broker that the Chairman of the ERC has to make value and liquidity judgments every day?…that we understand how such a combination of talents are needed on the ERC?…that what we do not understand is why they do not seem to have utilized the talents that led to their appointments?…that the expertise of the other two members are not known to the CCO so we are curious to know just who appointed them to the ERC and why?

IS IT TRUE that the Evansville City Council has also sat in silence while this Three Stooges Marathon has played itself out?…that it is time for the City Council to re-assert itself as the elected stewards of the people of Evansville’s money and demand an end to this madness?…that the candidates for Mayor of Evansville and for the City Council also need to let it be known what they think about the lack of VETTING of any kind by the ERC and how they would propose to fix it?

IS IT TRUE that it is time for Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, the ERC, and the City Council to call a press conference to publically apologize to the people of Evansville for the utter failure of this disorganized chaos?…that the actions and inactions that enabled this Three Stooges Marathon to play out the way it has NEEDS to be thoroughly analyzed and the VETTING PROCESS needs to be established before going forward with anything else except of course removing the pile of debris that is now the Executive Inn?…that there are no acceptable excuses for these failures?…that there is only an opportunity to suck it up, admit the failures, and to put a process in place to assure that the people of Evansville’s time and money is never ever treated with such utter disrespect again.

IS IT TRUE that the VETTING process needs to begin by Vetting the Vettors?…that the way that members of the ERC are appointed needs to have a VETTING PROCESS as well?…that people who are of an accommodating temperament that would make a rubber stamp for any Mayor should never be appointed to this or any commission?…that as much as we need independent thought on the City Council we also need independent competent thinkers on the ERC and other commissions?…that lapdogs should be verboten?

Take That: July 6, 2011

IN RESPONSE TO: Executive Inn Dilemma and the ERC

“Someone at the ERC should call Klenk Construction I’ll bet they know who signed the contract for demolition.” Blanger

“Considering the dysfunctional Arena project and its’ collateral expenses, a half billion dollars in sewer mandates and Vectren’s parasitic grip, we have passed the tipping point. Evansville and Vanderburgh County are tumbling out of control. … There is a reason why financing has not materialized. This Downtown Arena project was a fools notion from its’ inception. The chickens have come home to roost.” Bubbageek

“BUT, remember, TAXPAYERS – I.E. VOTERS – CAUSED IT! Remember the first Weinzapfel election? Weinzapfel’s criticism of Lloyd for STOPPING a million dollar project, treated as valid in the press, a progressive hero? We, (not specifically me, but we, collectively) “mandated” this kind of black box, hopey changey, progressive VETTING!” Eville Taxpayer

“This fiasco makes the excessive spending that got the whole CVB board fired look like the good old days. I would gladly pay 5 bottles of Opus One to avoid a completely inept performance that is going to cost the taxpayers millions of dollars. If these members of the ERC are allowed to stay on this board then whoever appoints them needs to be fired for breach of fiduciary responsibility. No private business in the country would survive being run like this. You want to talk about vetting? Who vetted these stooges? What does it take other than being a loyal brainless subject of Mayor Weinzapfel to serve on the ERC?” TheDonald

IN RESPONSE TO: Vetting

“The ERC had a six-person committee (appointed by ?) that recommended VenuWorks after clandestine interviews at the Vectren HQ. That must have been far more important to the ERC than the hotel project. The ERC is still wondering why an insurance agent with zero hotel and zero construction experience couldn’t finance and build a hotel. The ERC makes Boss Hogg look like Warren Buffet by comparison.” Joe Biden

“Is it true, “that Sears is more diligent about VETTING people for credit cards with a $200 limit than the ERC and the City of Evansville have been about committing millions of dollars of taxpayer’s money?” [Applause!]
But let me suggest another twist: Since bureaucrats at the ERC are not elected, yet hold such power over this population’s resources… Also since we’ve just heard statements from members that if true… might imply, dangerous, incompetence? The public should be demanding to hear exactly what is the administration/Council’s vetting process for placing individuals on ERC, too!……. Is there really any reason to believe individuals could have suspect judgement when it comes to evaluating a contractor, and sound judgement in all other areas of leadership? Is it true the past “vetting” process for ERC membership might be…1.) Has your past actions sufficiently deserved patronage? 2.) Double check #1.” Evilletaxpayer

“LOL if you expect any City employee, Council Member or Advisory butt kisser to go to these lengths. Take ten or so of your favorite bullet points on this post and make a one sheet checklist. Hey, that’s ten things we’re not asking for today ! Boy that Kish is doing a great job, when will the Mayor come out with the announcement in support of Kish, similar to George Bush praising “Brownie” at FEMA for doing “a heck of a job” on Katrina ??” Beerguy

No One on ERC Knew Who Would be Paying for the Debris Removal Until Today

In a sideline to the sideshow that the downtown Convention Hotel project has become the issue of the slow moving removal of debris was brought up by John Kish, the MLK Entertainment Complex project manager. Mr. Kish voiced concern about the urgency associated with getting the debris pile that used to be the Executive Inn removed so that the Arena project is not negatively impacted by it.

The attorney for Woodruff Hospitality LLC addressed the Evansville Redevelopment Commission and stated that Woodruff Hospitality LLC is of the opinion that the Kunkel Group has assumed financial responsibility for paying for the demolition of the Executive Inn and the removal of associated debris. Mr Kish acknowledged that he has been told the same thing. No representative of the Kunkel Group spoke at the meeting and neither Ben Kunkel nor Chuck Harper were in attendance.

In another twist to getting the debris removed Mr. Kish said that a change order was needed to the original contract that is of a large enough dollar amount that it will have to go through a competitive bidding process? The duration of time that Mr. Kish estimated for the entire process required to finish the debris removal completed was 60 days. In the best case this will put completion of debris removal into late September only a few weeks before the scheduled opening of the new Arena.

The prospect of a legal battle over exactly who will pay for the demolition and the debris removal prompted Mr. Kish to recommend to the ERC that the funds that have been approved for incentives to some eventual hotel developer for cleaning the debris. The question of “who is Klenk Construction (demolition contractor) working for?” was asked by a member of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission. That question prompted the discussion of who will pay and the end result of this is that the taxpayers of Evansville will pay.

The debris removal project can not start until the ERC meets again on July 19th to authorize the expenditure of the Hotel Incentive Funds to pay for the demolition and debis removal. The nature of the change order was not disclosed.

Kish states that No Progress has been made in the Last 2 weeks, and None is Expected

In this morning’s meeting of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission a motion was made by Sara Miller to terminate the agreement with Woodruff Hospital LLC. Ms. Millers motion was adopted by a vote of 5 – 0 by the members of the ERC instantly erasing an agreement that has been at the center of the public stage for a couple of months now because of the failure of the principals to attract a financing package.

Internal struggles within Woodruff Hospitality LLC have complicated the cooperation process that was hoped to result in a Hyatt Place hotel being built in downtown Evansville. John Kish, the project manager expressed the belief that cancellation of the Woodruff contract was a necessary step to make the newly issued RFP attractive to other bidders. Woodruff Hospitality LLC’s attorney, Chad J. Sullivan, said the Kunkel Group was the only holdout to being able to go forward with the project. Sullivan also told the commission he was not aware of his client’s interest in submitting a proposal to the new RFP. Sullivan plead with the ERC to delay rescinding the contract a while longer so that a meeting of the minds could be reached. His pleas was to no avail as the ERC proceeded to terminate the agreement.

Mr. Kish announced that the RFP had been published in the Courier Press and that it would be available online shortly.

Just before adjourning a member of the ERC asked Mr. Kish if it would be possible to incorporate some requirements for financial information for submission with future bids. Mr. Kish advised the ERC that they may add any vetting procedures that they wish to the RFP.

No members of the Evansville City Council were in attendance.

Time 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Subject ERC
Location 307
Reminder 15 minutes
SARAH @ 7825
Categories ROOM 307

Time 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Subject COUNTY COUNCIL
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs the first Wednesday of every 1 month effective 7/6/2011 until 7/6/2011 from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Reminder 15 minutes
SANDIE @ 5791
Categories ROOM 301

Time 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Subject PARKS BOARD
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs the first Wednesday of every 1 month effective 7/6/2011 until 7/6/2011 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
GLENN BOBERG @ 6141
Categories ROOM 301

Time 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Subject ERA Room 307 (Lana Abel) 2:30-3:30
Reminder 15 minutes

Time 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Subject HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Location 318
Recurrence Occurs the first Wednesday of every 1 month effective 7/6/2011 until 7/6/2011 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
Categories ROOM 318

Today is the launch of the 17th Annual Ducks on the Ohio event to benefit the transitional housing and employment services for homeless families with children of the Goodwill Family Center. Ducks are just $5 each, but goes a long way helping families break the cycles of generational poverty and homelessness. Residents of the Family Center WORK toward independence but need your help!

First Place Prize: $10,000 (maybe even ONE MILLION DOLLARS, courtesy of Fifth-Third Bank)
Second Prize: Pro-Equipment Groundskeeping Package from Tri-State ECHO Dealers (val. $1500)
Third Prize: One Year Security Monitoring from VANGUARD Alarm Services (val. $1500)
Fourth Prize: Goaliath In-Ground Basketball Unit (val. $999.99)
Fifth Prize: Resort Accommodations for One Week (val. $550)

Three students enrolled in health occupation courses at the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation’s Southern Indiana Career and Technical Center, were honored recently at the National HOSA Leadership Conference in California this summer.

Students Emily Jackson, Nicole Winters and Carolanne Pierce were recognized for their work in the National Recognition Program. The purpose of the program is for students to demonstrate the skills, abilities and attitudes necessary to pursue a career in health care. In order to demonstrate those attributes, students spend two years creating a portfolio of evidence of his/her accomplishments, including presentations, projects, writing samples, certifications and more.

In addition, Pierce also received the Barbara James Service Award which recognizes individual HOSA members whose commitment to community service is worthy of recognition. The award is named after Barbara James, 1982-1983 HOSA Inc. Board Chairman.

IS IT TRUE? July 6, 2011

IS IT TRUE that today is finally the day of reckoning for the decision to be made by the Evansville Redevelopment Commission on whether to continue to flounder with a perpetual extension scheme with the downtown Convention Hotel or not?…that we wonder if the Executive Inn Dilemma will now morph into another McCurdy with the perpetual extension mechanism (PEM) fully engaged so that not a minute passes where some City of Evansville official may have to admit that they do not have a contract in place?…that we shall know in a few hours if the ERC will move forward with sanity with a new and achievable RFP or if they will cling to the sputtering past of asserting confidence in the success of an agreement that was never VETTED?

IS IT TRUE that there are some mutterings of VETTING requirements emerging from members of the Evansville City Council and in particular from Councilman John Friend?…that Mole #5 has reported that a member of the ERC was overheard asking a member of the City Council “just what is VETTING anyway”…that if the members of the ERC can’t answer that question by now that they are not even engaged enough in the process to do some rudimentary searches on Google?…that a VETTING PROCESS is adopted prior to the acceptance of bids?…that there are several levels of VETTING that are done by all sorts of businesses and that the bankers on the ERC should be fully familiar with these protocols?

IS IT TRUE that most everyone was VETTED at a minimum level when we applied for that first credit card after high school?…that such a VETTING PROCESS to issue a credit limit of a couple of hundred dollars for the most part wants to establish that you have a pulse, an address, and a job?…that beyond that if you have not already defaulted then you shall be approved?…that the next round of VETTING that most of us were subjected to was in purchasing a car?…that they were looking for a pulse, an address, a job, and maybe a short credit history?…that we were also VETTED to get a mortgage and that the banks are looking for a pulse, a job, an address, a credit history, AND a purchaser of the mortgage so they can flip it for a 4% transaction fee?…that every one of these VETTING PROCESSES is more than has been required of developers by the City of Evansville?…that Sears is more diligent about VETTING people for credit cards with a $200 limit than the ERC and the City of Evansville have been about committing millions of dollars of taxpayer’s money?

IS IT TRUE that when investment firms like venture capitalists VET prospective companies that it is a very intrusive process requiring details of the financial backgrounds, performance records, health, and lifestyle of the principals of the business?…that they do this for equity investments that are exactly in the range of the amounts that the downtown Convention Hotel and the McCurdy are?…that the McCurdy decision was a decision to invest $1.4 Million of taxpayer’s money?…that the decision on the developer for the downtown Convention Hotel is a decision on how to invest over $10 Million of Evansville taxpayer’s money?…that thus far these decisions have been made with less due diligence than getting a low end credit card requires?…that to anyone who has been involved in identification and VETTING of acquisition targets or strategic investments that the City of Evansville and the ERC really do look like they all just fell off of the turnip truck?…that the time for running a city the way that the Dukes of Hazard would have is over?…that the taxpayers of Evansville deserve and should demand competent oversight?

IS IT TRUE that the first questions on the VETTING sheet before even doing a cursory credit check should be?

1. Have you ever built a hotel? Explain the details!
2. Have you ever run or even worked in a hotel? Explain the details!
3. Why do you want to do this project? Explain the details!
4. Can you post a performance bond?

IS IT TRUE that if these simple questions are not answered satisfactorily that there is no need to take the next step?…that the application should not even be read if these questions are not adequately addressed?…that the right answer to question #4 is YES?

IS IT TRUE? Part 2 July 5, 2011 Vetting and Betting

IS IT TRUE that today is the last day for the factions within Woodruff Hospitality LLC to mend their fences and declare that they can close the deal and will work together under this corporate banner to build and operate a Downtown Convention Hotel?…that if they do that then the Evansville Redevelopment Commission will have avoided having to issue yet another RFP in an attempt to get a developer that can perform according to some to be determined contract?…that as we have said before, this is what happens when no VETTING PROCESS is in place prior to signing contracts?…that this is also what happens when no elected officials are in positions of responsibility when substantial sums of public money are being spent?…that the ERC and the Evansville City Council need desperately to take a crash course in VETTING so that whenever and if ever a developer comes forth with an acceptable plan that we do not get into another embarrassing expensive situation that was easily avoidable with just a little up front thinking?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer certainly hopes that by the end of this month that this situation is rectified and that a fully VETTED developer is under contract to proceed?…that we shall be watching the actions of both the ERC and the City Council in the next month to see if there is any ability or even the will to put a VETTING PROCESS into place?…that we wish them well but may just bet that they won’t make it happen should such a bet be possible to make?…that this whole process will likely be repeating itself in August with the McCurdy being the object of attention?…that it has been a four year disappointment as well?…that the VETTING PROCESS that we hope is put into place could be useful down at the McCurdy too?

IS IT TRUE that the mind of government really seems to work in strange ways?…that President Obama led and supported an effort to ban the playing of poker online?…that the same President is now selling lottery tickets for $5 each with the prize being “Lunch with the President”?…that there may be over 1 Million of those Presidential scratch-offs sold netting his campaign a cool $5 Million?…that for those who are into the scratch-off game there is a way to make some money from this scheme?…that the winner of this lunch could SELL this privilege to the highest bidder?…that this idea to SELL lunch with the President would most likely bring a bid of at least $50,000?…that selling the lunch would cause one to have to declare gambling earnings of $50,000 on an income tax return?…that the federal taxes would amount to as much as $17,500 and the state taxes would be $2,200 leaving the winner with $30,295 to stimulate the economy with?…that off of this one little lottery scheme that the President’s campaign would get $5 Million, the state and federal governments will get $19,700, and the economy will get goosed up by $30,295?

IS IT TRUE that whoops, it takes $5 Million in consumer spending off the table and gives it to a politician?…that pulling $5 Million off the table that was certainly destined for consumer spending will most certainly cost the states about $350,000 in sales taxes that won’t be collected?…that we should forget the whole scheme lest it lead to “Game with the Governor”, “Martini with the Mayor”, “Cocktails with the Council”, “Absinthe with the Assessor”, “Shots with the Senator”, or even “Coffee with the Judge” being arranged by selling lottery tickets or pulling tabs?…that our local government is already hopelessly addicted to a revenue stream that is dependent on gambling?…that this is not a good example for the President to set for others who seek public office to use as a fundraising technique?