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Steve McCallister, long-time WIA member and past president, has been wondering . . .
I took last month off, mainly because
nothing had presented itself to me to wonder about. Plus, this year I was
canning green beans; the first batch in two years. My anti-deer vegetable
preservation device worked this year, and Bambi with her new fawn (yes, another
one) could not figure a way into the 2 X 4 X 45 foot long chicken wire box.
My sister’s garden was not so lucky. About a week ago, I saw the deer herd,
numbers about seven now, sauntering across Harmony Way near Mount Vernon
Avenue. For some reason, and I am not making this up, a couple looked up at the
deer crossing sign on the pole there. I guess they were glad the city was
telling them they were right at home.
Driving east on Franklin Street toward First
Avenue the other day, I noticed that the overhead lane marker signs are still
missing. This is after a mention in this column as well as two calls to city
hall. And I wonder why that is.
And then there is the property where Kohl’s
is located. While I understand that the “Do Not Mow” signs may be in place by
Carpentier Creek to remediate for the wholesale flora rape that the developer
visited upon the community, does that extend to all the rest of the property?
Weeds, some reaching waist high, surround that property. Arbor Vitae bushes
planted on the north perimeter are dying due to lack of attention. And the area
along Hogue is little more than a huge unmarked litter barrel. Westsiders, even
businesses, used to care what their property looked like. I wonder why a huge
chain such as Kohl’s doesn’t.
In that same neighborhood, someone wants to
develop property that sits in a flood plain and wetland. Indeed, except in
driest weather, it has water standing. Now, if they fill it in, or pave it, the
immediate problem with water will go away, except maybe in downpours. The water
will run into Carpentier Creek and make its way farther south, where it will
join other run-off with nowhere to go, and bring additional flooding to those
adjacent downstream neighborhoods. I can see the developer saying that that is
not his problem. But, as a citizen, it IS his problem, just as much as it is
ours. Proper planning must take all that into consideration as well. I wonder
why it often doesn’t.
I cannot let this column go without saying
something about the Greenway. The former ad-hoc committee has not met, I
understand, since Shirley James died, and probably never will again. The new
“Committee” is not in place because of a squabble between the city and county
administrations on the joint ordinance, and a squabble among members of the
County Council. Now is NOT the time for momentum on this wonderful project to
lag. Now is the time to work together, to compromise, to push ahead, to let
egos become subservient to the commonweal. For those politicians who have said:
“It’s my way or no way”, I would say just one thing: “Get out of OUR way!”.
(August 2007)
It had to happen I suppose. First, a few years ago, the police
divided the city into sectors. The “west” sector began not on Main Street, but
US 41. These day, if one peruses the realtor ads published bi-weekly, one can
find more than a few listings labeled “Westside” with addresses that start out
as East So-and-So Street. Everyone wants to be a westsider I guess, and who can
blame them? But since when is an “east” address, a Westside address?
Now about traffic and our streets! Commendably, the citizens’ ad-hoc Greenway
Committee, under the chair of the late Shirley James, got the latest segment of
the Greenway under construction recently. It will stretch from the foot of
Fulton Avenue, along Ohio Street, under the Lloyd and end (only temporarily we
hope) at Franklin Street. It includes reclamation of the old General Waste site
and the old Ohio Street bridge as the Marchand Overlook. Kudos to that no longer
extant group for that!
While Fulton’s southbound lane was narrowed for this construction, some
scheduling genius took the same opportune time to close off Second Street at
Fulton. The result is a bottle-neck with afternoon traffic backed up around
Riverside to Court Street at times. Left turns onto Ohio Street are prohibited
of course, due to lane closures. Further, if you are eastbound on Ohio, and want
to go to the new Hotel le Merigot or RiRa’s restaurant, you can turn right,
drive all the way to Court Street, go up to First Street and backtrack. The
northern route from Ohio Street to RiRa’s is even more tortuous. Ohio to Lloyd.
Lloyd to John. John to Market, Market to Carpenter Street, Carpenter to Second
Street, Second street to 3’rd Avenue Street, 3’rd Avenue to First Street and
again, come in the back door. If you think reading this is confusing, try
driving it! At a EUTS policy meeting some years ago, I heard that everything
that is done is for emissions reduction. Well, maybe not everything! Why is
that?
A real pet peeve of mine is the intersection of First Avenue and John Street,
where the twisty downtown streets straighten up to run due north. There is a
double stop light there. Many people complain about lights being too long. That
one is way too short. If you are the third car waiting, 9 times out of 10, you
will not make the first light. If by some fluke you do make the first light, but
are the third car, you will NOT make the second light. If you are behind a
truck, forget making either of them. Why is that?
Proceeding farther down John Street, once you get past M.L.
King, all the possible streets into downtown are cul-de sac’ed. I do a lot of
business at the Curtis Building on Main Street. If I am on John Street, I have
to go all the way to Main Street and turn right where immediately it becomes
Vine and snakes around parallel with John Street, before I can make an awkward
left turn onto 10th Street, before making another left onto Sycamore and back to
Main where I can make a right and park in front of the Curtis Building. Again if
just reading it is confusing, try driving it! If 10th Street had access to John
Street, I could avoid all that. Sure John Street is a frontage road for Lloyd,
but so is Division Street on the other side, and all its intersecting streets
are accessible. Why is that?
Then there are the overhead lane markers that we have in town on certain
streets. If you are eastbound on Franklin, coming to First Avenue, you just have
to guess which lanes are which. Across First Avenue the road narrows
considerably. On the eastbound Franklin approach, two of the three lane
directional signs are gone, and have been for over two years, and the markings
painted on the lanes themselves are so faded as to be unrecognizable. Why is
that?
Finally in the same neighborhood, Deaconess Hospital and Berry Plastics seem to
be in a dead heat to see who can buy up the most property, tear down housing,
and make parking lots. Why is that? Surely there is some way to accommodate
vehicle parking without paving every square inch of land as far as the eye can
see. (June 2007)
A couple of things have come up recently in the hallowed halls
of government that set me wondering about that way our elected representatives
represent us.
Years ago, someone came up with a pipe dream to encircle the city with a
greenway, a greenbelt that would provide walking and maybe biking trails. It
would generally border on Pigeon Creek, an abused resource if there ever was
one. Everyone thought it would be nice but no one did anything about it until
about 20 years ago. A citizen’s committee, under the nominal auspices of Carol
McClintock and the County Commissioners, came into being. There really were no
political appointments to this group; anyone could join. After a few years, Ms.
McClintock passed along the chair of the group to Shirley James of Westside
Improvement Association. Still a citizens’ group, and with only paternalistic
and patronizing pats on the head from the various city and county
administrations to go on, this band of leaders pressed ahead, developed a
long-range plan, studied similar developments in other parts of the country,
attended seminars, sourced funding, studied tangled deeds and rights-of-ways,
strove to understand and deal with miles of Federal red-tape, and managed to get
two sections complete, with another long section underway. The Visitors and
Convention Bureau, Vision 2000 and the Chamber of Commerce all began to tout
this quality-of-life aspect in their advertising. In short, this simple citizen
group had a vision and succeeded in making it real, something that local
government by itself had not and could not. And we all will benefit from their
work. Then, a few weeks ago, the county and the city, without any forewarning to
this group or its chair, decreed that The Pigeon Creek Greenway Advisory
Committee was somehow overstepping their bounds and would be dissolved. In its
place, a “true” advisory committee would be arranged, via ordinance, with
membership appointed directly by either city or county officials: no more simple
citizens’ group that gets things done. Maybe this is required by state statute,
maybe not. Regardless, the unfeeling and cavalier way it was announced just
rankles me. Both the city and the county should present keys to their front
doors to Shirley James and her volunteer committee, not yank the door mat from
under them as they go about their task of making this county a better place to
live.
Another nutso development occurred at the state house recently. The
Democratically controlled House of Representatives passed a budget that has NO,
read that again, NO funding for roadway construction, including our own I 69,
and the new Fulton/Lloyd overpass among others. Then, at a Meet Your Legislators
session, one of our Representatives had the nerve to patronizingly tell us “not
to get our undies in a bunch”. Pardon me, but we elected you to represent us, to
cast your vote meaningfully each and every time a vote is required. We did not
elect you to play partisan politics with our future. We did not elect you to
gamesmanship with our infrastructure. Yes, probably some sort of accommodation
might be worked out between the House and Senate in conference committee, but
what if it’s not? What then? By voting this way, you are sending a message to
the whole state that you too do not care about upgrading out roadways locally.
And then there is that mess on the eastside! The newly elected Democratic Knight
Township Trustee had trouble getting a performance bond, and didn’t have it
before the 1 January office-taking date. Whereupon, the township board, all
Republicans, trumpeted that she was not entitled to the office and would not get
it. Now it seems to me that the Democrats are as much to blame for this farrago
as the Republicans, though the GOP has committed the greater sin. How do you
slate someone to run for an office without checking their fitness for that
office and without orienting them to what is expected in that office? But on the
other hand, a three member, Republican or otherwise, committee should not have
the authority to nullify the will of the majority. This strikes at the heart of
our electoral enfranchisement.
It’s time for our elected officials, others of political pull, of whatever
party, and of whatever office, to exercise a profile in courage and inclusion,
not emulate the practice of partisanship and exclusion. Benjamin Bosse, a former
Evansville mayor said it best: “When everybody boosts, everybody wins.”
(March 2007)
One of the more interesting and useful things that county government has done
over the past few years, was the establishment of a website that allows one to
directly access maps and photos of properties throughout the county with
overlays of lot lines, streets, etc. This innovative public service was done by
Cheryl Musgrave when she was County Assessor. I bless her to this day for that!
One feature of this mapping innovation is that each parcel is labeled with its
own appropriate tax code. From this, it is easy to determine who owns a parcel,
as well as other information about the parcel itself.
I have been surprised over the past several years to find that some parcels do
not have tax code numbers on them. They appear to clearly be where streets had
been intended to go, or indeed were, in years past. No tax codes mean no taxes.
No taxes from occupied lands mean higher taxes for everyone else. Now, these are
not necessarily huge swaths of land, but added together gives a few acres that
could be taxable perhaps. Now before anyone gets bent out of shape, thinking I
am asking for raised taxes, I am not. Since we are stuck with Indiana’s woeful
tax code, the least we could do is make it equitable: everyone should pay for
what they use.
This past weekend, I found a number of such properties on the west side, just by
looking at the map. Do you know where 8th Avenue is? Or where Belleview is?
According to the GIS maps, they run into West Franklin Street just west of the
railroad tracks. On the maps, both are listed by name. Both show the red street
lines and center of the pavement lines. Neither have tax code numbers. And both
are fenced off, either entirely or partially. Yet someone is using these pieces
of property, in both these cases, for business. Now either the maps are
outdated, the streets previously vacated, or someone is getting a free ride. I
wonder which.
A third and fourth property nearly adjacent are labeled as belonging to the City
of Evansville, hence no tax code numbers. Other city properties I have seen
however do have tax codes, so that doesn’t make a lot of sense, and both appear,
by photo, to be being used for business as well and not by the city. A fifth
property is south of and adjacent to the Lloyd Expressway overpass due south of
the above properties. Here, Pennsylvania Street is clearly shown for at least a
city block where it terminates into another “street” defined area. Neither have
tax codes and both are fenced off and are being used for private business. Have
they been previously vacated? Are the maps in error again?
Then quite by accident, I found a crescent shaped curve of land about 70 feet
wide and over 500 feet long in the same general area just north of Maryland
Street. At one time, this was a railroad spur to the industries on the west side
of the creek. It had its own bridge over the creek (still there), and would make
a neat addition to the Greenway project perhaps. Witness the Rails to Trails
programs in other places. Now this is a substantial piece of property, even if
it is surrounded by industry. Again, it has no tax code and appears to be used
by businesses abutting it.
If I can find these anomalies, surely our elected officials charged with taxing
authority can find and rectify them too. If the maps are in error, let’s get
them fixed. If someone is getting a free ride, let’s get that fixed too. It’s
not fair to the rest of us.
In a somewhat related area, I noticed in the paper the other day that a
collection company has recovered nearly a million bucks in back taxes for the
county, and at no charge to the county. Now, that’s good news! (February
2007)
- I have spent the greater part of the last month commuting to Louisville
on a daily basis for work. The landscape between here and there, is not the
ocean tide rolling in fullest pride; it is not purple mountain majesties.
But it is farmland and forest and wears a subtle winter beauty all its own.
Thank heavens for the moderate temperatures thus far this winter. Because of
my travels, I have had less time to notice local items that I sometimes
wonder about. I have had enough time to think about three items though.
- First, we have had a response from John Stoll, County Engineer, on
why the Rosenberger reconstruction, stopping at Kohl’s, was not extended
the short distance to Hogue Road. I have always thought Mr. Stoll to be
an outstanding example of a public servant in a non-elected position. In
his job, he has served this county very ably and competently through
successive administrations. He continues to do that and so I was
heartened to hear from him. With his, and Commissioner Musgrave’s
permission, this is what he had to say:
“The Commissioners asked me to contact you in regard to your comments
regarding Rosenberger Ave. in the last Westside Improvement newsletter.
The widening of Rosenberger that was done by Kohl's only extended to
their main entrance based upon Kohl's assertion the majority of their
traffic would be coming from the Lloyd Expressway. As a result, their
improvements only extended from their entrance back to the existing four
lane section of Rosenberger at University Drive. Since there really
isn't an ordinance that mandates any scope of work for off site road
improvements in conjunction with a development, we really had no way to
force them to do any additional road work beyond what they did
complete.”
Maybe it is time we had such a tighter ordinance for similar development
in the future.
- Secondly, I read with a great deal of concern, about the City
Administration, through the Department of Metropolitan Development,
targeting the Hadi Shrine and other properties including the Hargis
house (circa 1866) at 216 S.E. Riverside, for purchase. This is being
contemplated through the use of Eminent Domain, for some possible future
unnamed and unspecified development. To me, as a private property owner,
this reeks to high heaven! Justice David Souter and the Supreme Court
notwithstanding, the concept of government (any government) taking
property from private owners to give to other private owners for
unidentified and non-emergency public need, is reprehensible. It may be
legal, but it is certainly unethical and probably immoral as well.
As a Westsider, you might wonder how this affects you, since it is
happening only downtown. Do you remember when meter maids patrolled only
downtown? Now they also tootle up and down West Franklin Street, writing
parking tickets there too. We are all part of the city, and so what
happens in one part, can happen in every part. What is to prevent the
City from listing three or four blocks of Franklin Street for
development? Think about that.
- Lastly, as you drive east on the Lloyd over Pigeon Creek, look at the
sidewalk alongside. While not impassable, it is littered with stuff,
including a muffler, 2x4s, hubcaps and other off-fall. Mounds of dirt, sand
and gravel still sport the remains of last year’s weed crop growing from
them. And the light poles are peeling and leaching rust stains onto the
concrete railings. I don’t know whether the responsibility is the City’s,
County's or the State’s, but surely this can get cleaned up now and in the
future. It all lies beneath the signs that proclaim the street as the Ohio
River Scenic Byway. Some scenery!
February 2006
- This column might become an on-going venture, and is merely intended to
stimulate some thought and perhaps some corrective action where needed. While
completely non partisan, it does NOT represent the thoughts nor any official
stance of the Westside Improvement Association membership or its Board of
Directors. Readership input is greatly appreciated.
- Several months ago, I was driving northwest on Riverside Drive on a late
but sunny afternoon. I was enjoying the new buildings and the new aspect of
our river front, when suddenly, my eyeballs were assaulted with the full and
blinding glare of the sun. I had suffered a direct hit of reflected sunlight
from the new rounded Vectren building. Surely, the architects considered where
sunlight would play off their mirrored façade, or then again, maybe not.
- The physical expansion of some local industries can be a good thing,
especially when sensitivity to their environment is in evidence. Recently
however, an entire half city block was purchased and completely cleared. There
were several older but well maintained houses on that block, but also some
truly magnificent trees. Surely, some way could have been found to preserve
several of those oaks, one of which was almost five feet in diameter.
“Cookie-cutter” parking lots are clearly efficient, but remain merely a boring
aesthetic, the introduction of a puny Hawthorn Crabapple border not
withstanding.
- The move to increase a certain non-elected county official’s salary by
nearly $10,000.00 was certainly eyebrow raising. Two reasons were given: to
bring that official’s salary into parity with similar positions statewide; and
because there is a seeming rapid turn-over in personnel for that position. The
first reason has some merit, but based upon similar salaries, not $10,000.00
worth of merit. The second reason, that of rapid turnover, I would suggest, is
because of the changing of the political party in charge, not because the
official left to take a similar job in another part of the state. Non-elected
department head positions within our city and county governments are not
generally merit (as opposed to political) positions. Perhaps they all should
be.
- Speaking of roadways, I was detoured again the other day while traveling
west on Franklin Street. It seems that the Railroad was once more trying to
smooth the pavement surface around and between the tracks there. This seems to
be a recurring project every nine months or so, and affects not just Franklin
Street, but also Ohio and Maryland Streets. Are we doomed to repeat this 9
month cycle ad infinitum or is it possible that the crossings can be fixed
permanently?
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