Members of the Evansville Police Department Bomb Squad were called to 916 W. Maryland to investigate a possible explosive device.

On January 17^th, around 9:15pm, officers were at the home trying to serve felony warrants on 49-year-old Terry Edwards. Officers could not get a response at the house, but one of the perimeter officers noticed the garage door was open and the light was on. As the officer approached the garage, he saw a hand grenade sitting in plain sight. It still had the pin attached and a warning written on the side that said “Warning-Live”. Officers closed off the immediate area and called in members of the bomb squad.  Due to the safety pin being in place, no evacuations were conducted.

The bomb squad technicians were able to determine it was not a live grenade. The technicians believe the grenade had been sold at a military surplus store, and then it was altered to make it appear to be a live grenade. The grenade was seized because it had been altered.

Edwards was not located. Anyone with information on Edwards is asked to contact the Evansville Police Department.

Indiana Senate Bill 25 proposes significant reforms for redevelopment commissions and departments. Complete SB 25 information can be found online at http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2012&session=1&request=getBill&docno=25.
 
General Assembly legislation is Taxpayer Friendly if it is results-oriented, compassionate, and fiscally conservative. SB 25 is Taxpayer Friendly because it provides much improved oversight over redevelopment commissions and departments by (a) the legislative or fiscal body of the taxing unit that created a redevelopment commission or department, (b) the State Board of Accounts, and (c) everyday Hoosiers through the public meeting and public records laws.
 
Under SB 25, the legislative or fiscal body of the taxing unit that created a redevelopment commission or department would have improved oversight over the redevelopment commission or department.
 
(1) The annual budget and tax levies of the redevelopment commission or department would be subject to review by the legislative body of the unit.
 
(2) The redevelopment commission or department could not enter into any debt or lease obligation payable from public funds without first obtaining the approval of the legislative or fiscal body of the unit, with the exception if an obligation is for the acquisition of real property and the payments are for three years or less or the purchase price is less than $5 million. The legislative or fiscal body would be required to specifically approve the maximum payment or lease amounts as well as the maximum interest rate.
 
(3) The redevelopment commission or department would be required to provide to the legislative body of the unit at a public meeting all the information supporting the action the redevelopment commission proposes to take regarding the sale, transfer, or other disposition of property.
 
(4) If the amount of excess assessed value determined by the redevelopment commission or department is expected to generate more than 200% of the amount of allocated tax proceeds necessary to carry out the redevelopment or economic plans, the determination of the amount of the excess available to other taxing units would be approved by the legislative body of the unit. The legislative body of the unit would also be permitted to modify the redevelopment commission’s determination with respect to the amount of excess assessed value.
 
(5) The redevelopment commission or department would be subject to the same laws, rules, and ordinances of a general nature that apply to all other commissions or departments of the creating unit.
 
(6) If outside Indianapolis, the treasurer of the redevelopment commission or department (or the secretary-treasurer of the redevelopment authority) would be required to report quarterly to the fiscal officer of the unit that established the commission or authority.
 
(7) The Indianapolis Controller would be the fiscal officer of the redevelopment commission and redevelopment authority in Indianapolis.
 
SB 25 also provides that a redevelopment commission, a department of redevelopment, and a redevelopment authority would be subject to audit by the State Board of Accounts.
 
In addition, a redevelopment commission, a department of redevelopment, and a redevelopment authority would be covered by the public meeting and public records laws.
 
The importance of SB 25 is demonstrated by the Lebanon Redevelopment Commission that operates the Lebanon Business Park tax increment financing (TIF) district. Three of the five voting members of the Lebanon RDC are appointed by the Lebanon Mayor, whose control of the commission outcomes is further enhanced by his legal authority to “summarily remove” his appointees at any time.
 
There are sufficient Lebanon Business Park TIF funds to retire the remaining TIF debt and terminate the TIF district. The release of the TIF assessed value from terminating the TIF district would lower all Lebanon property taxes by at least 5.5 percent (and lower all Boone County property taxes by a lesser amount) by reducing those property tax rates computed by dividing budget requirements by $100 of assessed vale. Also, those Lebanon and Boone County property tax components computed by a fixed rate per $100 of assessed value could have their rates lowered because the computed revenues would increase due to the increased assessed value from the terminated TIF district. (Those non-school property tax components computed by a fixed rate per $100 of assessed value that are allowed by state statute – primarily cumulative funds – are listed below under my name.)
 
The Lebanon Mayor refuses to let the Lebanon RDC terminate the TIF district to benefit the property tax payers of Lebanon and Boone County. Instead, the Lebanon Mayor has used TIF district proceeds the past five years for various outside-of-district expenditures that vary from a Lebanon Fire Department ladder truck, three Lebanon Police Department police cars, a Lebanon Street Department bucket truck, a new fire station, $1.5 million for agricultural-themed translucent panels on the Indiana 39 bridge over I-65, $500,000 to help fund a 9,600 square-foot “event center” at Lebanon High School, to $140,000 to pay back taxes so an abandoned motel can be demolished.   
 
The improved oversight requirements in SB 25 would better expose the Lebanon RDC operations to the light of day and improve the chance of taxpayer benefit instead of continued discretionary spending by the Lebanon Mayor.
 
PLEASE contact your State Representative and State Senator to let them know what you think of SB 25. Information on how to identify and contact your General Assembly public servants can be found online at http://www.finplaneducation.net/general_assembly_ratings.htm.
Watchdog Indiana is a non-profit, non-connected, and non-party advocate for good government that focuses on the state and local tax burden of Hoosier working families. An online community is established where Hoosiers come together voluntarily to help encourage our state and local governments better respond to the needs of working families. Watchdog Indiana was established November 14, 2001, and the Watchdog Indiana website can be found at http://www.finplaneducation.net/.

Rep. Bacon will be hosting the town hall to discuss current legislative issues and address the concerns of constituents this session.

WHAT:  Town Hall meeting

WHEN:  Saturday, January 21 at 9:00 a.m.

WHERE:  Haubstadt Community School Cafeteria

For more information regarding the event, please contact 1-800-382-9841.

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EVANSVILLE, IN — (MARKET WIRE) — 01/17/12 — As expected, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized more stringent rules last month via the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), which regulates emissions of mercury and other pollutants. Given Vectren’s (NYSE: VVC) significant investment in emissions control equipment over the past decade, the utility is in a position to largely comply with MATS without significant additional investment.

Since 2001, Vectren has installed more than $410 million in emissions control equipment on its predominantly coal-fired generation fleet in southwestern Indiana. As a result, Vectren’s electric generation fleet is now 100 percent scrubbed for sulfur dioxide, 90 percent controlled for nitrogen oxide and substantially controlled for particulate matter and a significant portion of mercury.

“As we’ve seen with other EPA clean air rules issued in 2011, our previous investment in air quality for this region will help ensure we can comply with these new standards,” said Carl Chapman, Vectren’s chairman, president and CEO.

The new rules, which were proposed on March 16 and finalized on Dec. 21, 2011, illustrate the continued trend by EPA to further regulate coal-fired generation. Existing power plants generally will have up to four years, if needed, to comply with MATS. This includes the three years provided to all sources by the Clean Air Act, and state permitting authorities can also grant an additional year as needed for technology installation.

“We made the decision several years ago to make these investments to improve the air quality for southwestern Indiana and pave the way for further economic development in our region, and as such, our customer’s rates have increased to reflect these costs,” added Chapman. “However, we again find ourselves in a position to comply, while other regional utilities have already announced they will proceed with significant expenditures to meet EPA demands or retire some uncontrolled coal generation units.”

EPA’s analysis estimates the rules will cost utilities and ultimately customers about $9.4 billion when the rules take effect in 2015 and each year slowly decrease to a low of $7.4 billion per year through 2030. However, an analysis for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity by National Economic Research Associates (NERA) found that the proposed rule and other pending EPA regulations will increase electricity and other energy prices by $170 billion. The EPA acknowledged the regulations will result in 14.7 gigawatts of power supply (or 1 to 2 percent) being eliminated from the U.S. power grid. Many believe this estimate is low.

Vectren has nearly 1,300 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity, of which 1,000 MW is coal-fired. Vectren has two power plants: F.B. Culley in Warrick County and A.B. Brown in Posey County. The utility shares ownership of Warrick Unit 4, a 150-MW unit, with Alcoa. Vectren serves 142,000 electric customers in Dubois, Gibson, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties.

“As state government’s lawyer, my office’s obligation is to defend the decisions of state boards and commissions. If the Recount Commission found a candidate eligible for the ballot, we would defend the decision; and if they found a candidate was not eligible, we would defend that decision also. Regardless of the candidate, the commission’s administrative authority to act is a legal principle that the State must defend. My office in a careful methodical way is drafting an appeal with the objective of bringing this convoluted case to the Indiana Supreme Court,” Zoeller said.

The Indiana Attorney General’s Office represents the Recount Commission only and does not represent candidate Charlie White. The Attorney General has the separate legal authority to seek an appeal on behalf of the Recount Commission’s previous decision without the commission reconvening. An appeal of the December 22 court order will be filed soon.

(EVANSVILLE, Ind.) – December 16, 2011 – Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel announced today that the Kunkel Hotel Group and negotiators working on behalf of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission (“ERC”) have reached a written understanding to bring a new convention headquarters hotel to downtown Evansville.

At its regularly scheduled meeting on December 6, 2011, the ERC approved a resolution to enter into negotiations with the Kunkel Hotel Group, and directed its negotiation team, including Rob Hunden of Hunden Strategic Partners, LLC of Chicago and the law firm of Barnes & Thornburg, to report back regarding the status of those negotiations at the next regularly-scheduled ERC meeting, which will be next Tuesday, December 20.

The understanding, consisting of a memorandum executed today by Ben Kunkel and recommended to the ERC by the negotiators, sets forth the incentives package and development terms to create the new hotel on the site of the former parking garage located on Walnut St. between Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and Sixth St. Although the MOU is not legally binding on either party, it does outline a set of incentive loans valued at $8 million, which are in line with the incentive package included in the request for proposals and with the incentive package generally approved by the City Council by resolution last January.

“We believed from the beginning of this process that a convention hotel in Downtown Evansville – supporting and supported by the Ford Center and The Centre – not only is necessary for the economic well-being of our community, but is also obtainable. The MOU is a giant step forward in making this proposed convention hotel a reality. For all intents and purposes, it is a bridge to our future,” said Mayor Weinzapfel.

Funding for the incentives is already on deposit with the Evansville Bond Bank, and the loans will be supported only by commitments from the developer and the revenue collected in the Downtown TIF fund. The incentives are not a burden on the general property taxpayer nor a general obligation of the City of Evansville. The City Council will be asked to reaffirm its commitment to the hotel development, based upon the MOU, at its meeting on Monday, December 19.

The negotiating team will now begin work on the complete development agreement and related legal documents.

(EVANSVILLE, IN) – December 15, 2011 – Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel is pleased to announce the Evansville Redevelopment Commission signed an agreement earlier this week with Architectural Renovators LLC, owned and operated by Mike Martin, to redevelop the property at 413-415 S.E. Third St., commonly known as “The Euclid,” into a six-unit apartment building. The development agreement for this project was approved by the ERC last month.

The Euclid was built in 1913 by Gustave A. Hartmetz, an Evansville banker and real estate developer. It was developed as a “stylish” 10-unit apartment building and was described at the time of construction as a “modern flat.” Located in both the Evansville Arts District and the Riverside National Historic District, The Euclid is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Vacant for approximately 10 years and substantially deteriorated, The Euclid was headed toward demolition until Martin expressed interest in the property. The redevelopment of The Euclid comes on the heels of Martin’s successful renovation of the Audubon apartments earlier this year.

“Like too many once-beautiful buildings, The Euclid has fallen into disrepair, a victim of, among other things, population gradually shifting away from the City’s core. Fortunately, developer Mike Martin has the vision to see that The Euclid is a diamond in the rough,” said Mayor Weinzapfel. “The project we’re announcing today is just one more sign that the private sector can see the enormous potential the Arts District holds and that projects such as this are a good investment for them and for the City.”

Architectural Renovators will invest more than $800,000 in private funds to purchase the property at appraised value from the Evansville Brownfields Corporation and to renovate the interior and exterior of the property. The Evansville Redevelopment Commission will provide incentive funding in the amount of $100,000.00 in the form of a grant. Work on the project is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2012 and take approximately 12 months to complete. Monthly rent at The Euclid is expected to be approximately $800 per month for each two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit.

The local office is being manned to allow motorists in non-compliance status the opportunity to sign up for a Wabash Pass transponder for their vehicles and pay their violations without any penalties being incurred.  Motorists with the Wabash Pass may also stop in and add money to their accounts, resolve any issues with their transponders or accounts or ask general questions regarding the system.

The new system has not gone without having issues; however, INDOT has worked with contractors, software designers and local law enforcement to resolve those concerns.

January 1 of last year, INDOT began utilizing the electronic tolling system as a way to continue the practice of being good stewards of the Taxpayer’s dollars.  The bridge is not a part of the Federal Highway Register and is not eligible for federal funding for repairs or replacement.  The structure was originally built in 1956 and recently underwent improvements.  It is currently in year 54 of its estimated 75 year life span.

The State did not want to entertain the notion of increasing tolls for the bridge.  The last increase was in 1984.  In order to secure the funding required for the necessary repairs and replacement, refining the tolling process was necessary.  By switching to the automated system the State will have a reduction in operating costs and allowing those funds to be retained for capital improvements.

The electronic tolling system allows users to place a transponder on the front windshield of the vehicle which will be scanned by an overhead reader at the toll bridge.  Motorists upload money on their account to be used to pay their tolls without having to carry cash or purchase advance tickets as they have had to do in the past.

Motorists can continue to visit www.wabashbridge.com to order a transponder or add money to their account.  If motorists are unable to come to the office or do not have access to the internet, they may also contact INDOT.  Please call 1-800-279-5758 and press “4” for the Wabash Pass.  Our staff will take the necessary information and process the necessary equipment.

INDOT encourages motorists to slow down and pay special attention while traveling in work zones throughout Indiana.  For the latest news and information about INDOT, please visit www.in.gov/indot and www.trafficwise.in.gov