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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Nov 2, 2013 12:44:45 GMT -6
I talked to someone who said they saw a $350,000.00 bid to remove the asbestos from the "gift" property.
I'm sure that would have been with private money, with public funds prevailing wages apply that usually increase job prices significantly.
Shouldn't a gift have value instead of being a liability to the recipients?
If it will cost anywhere near that much for asbestos removal, it seems like it is really a turd of a gift.
Instead of paying a sewer bill can we package it with a bow and drop it off at City Hall as a gift?
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Post by helencrump on Nov 4, 2013 6:41:44 GMT -6
Question...is the roller rink still a drain like it was when first 'gifted', or is it still bringing in monthly lease?
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Nov 4, 2013 7:34:13 GMT -6
I think it is a very sad situation that commercial property here has so little value that when it won't sell, it is given away.
Why was the acceptance of the recent "gift" pushed through so quickly, without informing the public before?
What are their plans for the asbestos loaded property? Shouldn't they have a plan for it before pulling it off the tax rolls and putting such a liability on tax payers? Why wouldn't they share that plan with the citizens they are supposed to be representing?
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Post by willy on Nov 4, 2013 11:08:51 GMT -6
Looks like we have another item for discussion that will allow Kyle to criticize the City of Streator again. First of all, whoever "someone" is, I wouldn't count on him or her for your information to post on here a cost of $350K to abate the asbestos. The City has not signed off on the property as a gift as of today. There has been NO bid letting on asbestos by the City as they don't own it. If and when it is accepted, a company from Hennepin will scrap the buildings out at no cost to the City. Whatever asbestos is in the buildings is contained where the boilers are located. That abatement is estimated to cost around $20K to abate. Under the proposed gift, the City would receive $50K and title to the property.
When the property on Oakley Avenue was gifted to the City, the property had mold and mildew issues in the office areas. That still has to be taken care of. The cost of that is estimated to be around $35K. ALM made a donation to the City when they needed emergency space for a huge contract. That donation was $8000. That number when added to the $30K from the Tuscarora property gift will cover the cost of the abatement of the mold and mildew.
When the City goes into closed session for various legal reasons, the public isn't privy to what goes on in those discussions. The recent property gift was a talked about item for more than a few years. I don't believe the City is making any decisions that are detrimental to the general public. Some things are confidential, and no Kyle, you don't need to know everything until it becomes public knowledge.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2013 11:10:50 GMT -6
oh well he has enough money to buy streator over and over. than wants donation for riverview.
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Post by willy on Nov 4, 2013 11:44:46 GMT -6
Jude, I assume you're referring to Mr. Hart. Yes there have been requests for donations for the cemetary. I have family buried there and although the cost of the plot included perpetual care, the costs have really gone up in the last twenty years when my brother was buried. I have no problem receiving a request for a donation. As far as Mr. Hart's financial status in this community, why be critical of someone who has done a lot of giving, both of time and financially? I just don't understaned it.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Nov 4, 2013 11:48:54 GMT -6
The City has not signed off on the property as a gift as of today. That wasn't the impression the newspaper gave: Streator accepts property of former Tuscarora Plastics 10/16/2013, 10:14 pm Streator City Council Wednesday approved the gift and acceptance of the property of the former Tuscarora Plastics at 702 S. Vermillion St. to the city - See more at: mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=483373&query=tuscarora#sthash.mqNCalEg.dpufWhat are the plans for the property? Why take it off the tax rolls without informing the public of what the City is going to use it for? Our city being a holding company for vacant properties really doesn't seem like a good thing to me. Have you seen their building downtown? I know that they don't have to tell us anything or give the public a chance to have any say in what they do, but I think it could be a good thing. There was a comment at the council meeting that there was no plan for the property, it wasn't denied. Unless they do have a good plan for it, I see taking it off the tax rolls as just another reason to vote for new leaders.
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Post by willy on Nov 4, 2013 12:15:34 GMT -6
My post was to clarify your inaccurate post. The council doesn't have an obligation to tell anyone exactly what they may be thinking in regards to the property. As I said, it isn't a done deal and I don't care what you may quote from the newspaper. But your credibility is on the line each and every time you misstate something as fact. Why not just wait and see and then if you don't agree with a decision, make your comments, that's your right.
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Post by rukidding (towns local troll) on Nov 4, 2013 13:10:56 GMT -6
My post was to clarify your inaccurate post. The council doesn't have an obligation to tell anyone exactly what they may be thinking in regards to the property. As I said, it isn't a done deal and I don't care what you may quote from the newspaper. But your credibility is on the line each and every time you misstate something as fact. Why not just wait and see and then if you don't agree with a decision, make your comments, that's your right. HOLD THE PHONES.10/16/2013, 10:14 pm Streator City Council Wednesday approved the gift and acceptance of the property of the former Tuscarora Plastics at 702 S. Vermillion St. to the city Are YOU saying the Paper is WRONG in what They said about The City Council "accepting" AND approving THIS Gift? If SO, then We will be SEEING a retraction in the Paper CORRECT?
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Nov 4, 2013 13:11:34 GMT -6
My post was to clarify your inaccurate post. The council doesn't have an obligation to tell anyone exactly what they may be thinking in regards to the property. As I said, it isn't a done deal and I don't care what you may quote from the newspaper. But your credibility is on the line each and every time you misstate something as fact. Why not just wait and see and then if you don't agree with a decision, make your comments, that's your right. I didn't mistake anything as fact; I said it was what someone told me. I had asked if there was an assessment and how much it would cost tax payers to clean it up a couple times. I think it is something that the people responsible for paying should be able to know. If I felt that I could go to my City and get any answers, I wouldn't have to try to confirm information that I get off the street on here. If it is not a done deal, what is going to happen, will citizen complaints force it to go against the council's vote? I highly doubt it. I prefer to have a government that listens to what I might want first and then makes decisions, instead of having them do whatever they want and commenting after it is done. I think it is my right to keep asking for our City to go in a better direction and comment whenever I want.
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Post by rukidding (towns local troll) on Nov 4, 2013 13:13:15 GMT -6
Question...is the roller rink still a drain like it was when first 'gifted', or is it still bringing in monthly lease? I just drove past it. Looked EMPTY to Me.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2013 13:22:44 GMT -6
I myself just drove by there. Still looks empty to me.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Nov 4, 2013 14:28:42 GMT -6
That abatement is estimated to cost around $20K to abate. At the meeting, Councilman Phelan voiced concern that the $50,000.00 was not enough to take care of the environmental cleanup. Why didn't they tell him and the public that there would be $30,000 left over for other things? Wasn't this property up for sale for a long time? I wonder why they didn't just clean it up so that it would have a better chance of selling. The owner's all of the sudden felt so generous as to not only give away the property, but an extra $30,000 on top of the cleanup? Something just doesn't seem right about this whole thing.
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Post by rukidding (towns local troll) on Nov 4, 2013 14:53:56 GMT -6
WILLIE WE have questions for YOU to answer.
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Post by willy on Nov 4, 2013 16:51:10 GMT -6
The property on Oakley still has mold and mildew issues and until those problems are taken care of I would assume it will remain empty. ALM used the western part of the building for storage space and was not affected by the mold.
As far as Bill Phelan having an opinion on how much it would take to abate the asbestos, he's entitled to his opinion. What does he base his opinion on. The city engineer gave an opinion of $20K to do the abatement. I believe Mr. Palm in his assessment, and when all is said and done Oakley Avenue will be ready for use.
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