Sorry I'm late for my weekly posting. Last week was hectic as some of you know. We had to deal with a sewer rate increase proposal.
I was contacted late last week with a proposal concerning a sewer rate increase that I felt was fair. However, I then read in the paper that the administration is still pushing the $12+million parking garage. How can one justify to the taxpayers in our community that we need to increase taxes and rates when they're proposing to build another project under the guise of "economic development" when it is a giveaway of taxpayers money to a group of developers. It is time to use our tax money, whether it be EDIT, TIF, CDBG or any other revenue to benefit the community as a whole. Mr. Baylor told a councilman that he has "skin in this game", referring to downtown. We, meaning our whole community, all have " skin in this game". We care about the city as a whole, not just a small area.Why do these few people believe the city as a whole must suffer for their greed? What and how many quality jobs will this investment produce.
I was appalled at the way the city's, (our) property was advertised, ( the property that is to be developed) so that there would not be other qualified bidders to bid. I was contacted this Sunday, March 21st, by another group of developers that were also interested in this same property. If you are going to sell City property that is valued at over 1 million dollars in a prime location, please be wise enough to use other advertisements than just the Tribune. The internet is free and reaches millions of people. I use it for my business and reach prospective buyers throughout the country. I also find it amazing that a prime piece of property in a prime location is not worth as much as the Hoosier Panel site or equal to the Coyle site, ( of which the city has plans to buy).Seems like there maybe some favoritism involved.
One should look at the comprehensive plan that was recently passed for downtown. In this plan there was a passage that allowed the city to take 1/2 of the parking lot from the V.F.W. on Market Street It also stated that in the plan to remove the tank. No one from the V.F.W. was informed about this plan and how they might feel. It was also stated that where the city was to take 1/2 of the V.F.W. parking lot, the city would use that portion to build " Brown Stones", a certain type of housing that Mr. Rosenbarger is fond of. ( It must be noted that Mr. Rosanberger is a key part of the administration). When the members of the V.F.W. found out what was in the plan, those people responsible for putting this plan together were irate. While they should have apologized to the V.F.W. members seeing how these are the people that suffered and died to keep our country free. Instead, they were irate that the members found out about their plan and wanted to know who told them. The people from the V.F.W. earned the right to keep their property as they see fit. Who are these cowards who hide behind the guise of government to try to deprive our veterans of their rights? Why would any elected official allow such people to stay in their appointed position?
