"Relax"---Dateline Minnesota---snowstorm looms

See how easy that is. Just say it one more time=====

"relax." O.K.

After the shock and awe of the recent range of price tags for the Evansville School vision by Plunkett Raysich, I thought some levity in order. Here are some further reflections:

1. The estimated costs are in "current dollars," i.e. 2007 dollars. Thus the price tags might double if the current rate of building costs continue and action was finalized in 2016.

2. The estimated costs do not include "site acquisition." Add .

3. For two years folks have been disregarding requests for studies that would analyze the cost impact of residential development. Each month, the planner simply states that no action has been taken further on this matter. NOBOBY wants to see. Thus-----the meeting last week was the wake up call. It was a shock. It was a necessary moment for our community. It will be 20 years for the taxpayer to see a tax benefit in TIF 6 or TIF 7, and 27 years till the taxpayer
sees a benefit from The Economy Store and TIF 5 projects.

When asked for a comment at the formal meeting of TIF 6, Supr. Heidi Carvin said she thought TIF 6 looked good as far as TIF's went, since it was commercial and industrial and would not bring students to the schools.---however, getting to the end of the TIF would be the real challenge. 20 years. Yes. That is correct.

4. Another shocker was the open question by Supr. Carvin whether "Smart Growth" limits would hold in light of the industrial developments in Evansville that look probable and could attract homeowners to Evansville. Also, developers near Oregon and Janesville have dreams of development that would impact Evansville schools that were NOT considered when Smart Growth was finalized. Thus, Supr. Carvin notes in her comments that there might be a danger in being too conservative in estimates of student demand.

25 New jobs at a plant is not enough to spark a buying panic. However. The community will weigh in as to the picture of impact that was presented last week, and the larger impact that would be felt if development was not controlled but opened up further. These are worthwhile questions to ask, and timely ones. Some of the previous answers may have to be revised. Stay tuned.

5. Another positive of the meeting last week was the verification that the current TRIS site and Levi Leonard and the new high school will be a viable middle school and high school site long term. Thus the current athletic facilities will be maximized and no further athletic facilities would be necessary to be constructed. Plus---this site with some "enhancement" of space could sustain long term. The consultants "flip flopped" on their report and said that TRIS was a solid building after all. That is what the original folks of Building and Grounds said in 2001 and seemed to be verified by Joe Francis.

6. It is important to define the "problem" precisely in planning documents---before the "solutions" are discussed. To do otherwise creates just confusion and dissension. So---my conclusion is that we need to discuss further the "problem" and the "development plan" discussion the city will be holding this year will be part of the definition of the situation. I look forward to these discussions. So until these details are ironed out, I urge folks to .....

relax.

and get the snow shovel out.------and the snow blower.

I am standing by in the eye of the storm, with pen in hand, ready to transmit the latest of info.
Stay tuned to the Evansville Observer. We do the local news. We leave the beer, bait, ammo and sports stories to others.