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Post by ironeagle on Apr 18, 2015 12:22:22 GMT -6
Easy Sell The FREAKING thing and use the Money that was for the Golf Course for MORE POLICE in this Town you think that might work.
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Post by helencrump on Apr 18, 2015 16:51:13 GMT -6
Ironeagle...anderson was left to the city. With the stipulation it not be sold. Thats been posted time and again for those that arent aware.
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Post by rocket on Apr 18, 2015 17:13:38 GMT -6
Can always convert the golf course back to a fair ground again with the horse race track like it was before it was destroyed by the tornado I believe in 1902.
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Post by willy on Apr 18, 2015 19:06:16 GMT -6
Ironeagle, there never has been a penny hidden from the publics eyes. You can get anything you want from city hall and read for yourself. Contrary to what you may believe, there is a minimum manning clause in the police union contract which doesn't allow the men on shift to fall below what has been negotiated into their contract. I did ask you though, if you closed Anderson Fields, would you be willing to close all the parks as well. Probably not, but you'd still have to spend money to maintain an additional 28 acres of property and where would that money come from? Too many people have all the answers but when it comes time to put their names on a ballot, they go into hiding until after the election, and then they continue to complain about whoever got elected and their failure to run the government the way they would have. There are a lot of smart people that offer on here, and then you have Rocket who manufactures things in his/her sleep.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Apr 18, 2015 19:26:28 GMT -6
Ironeagle, what's the cost to the city to maintain all the parks in Streator? The cost to the city for public works employees for at least i6 months of the year must be figured in to your computation. Anderson field employees cost is taken out of the Anderson Fields funds. So the cost of Anderson Fields to the city is the difference between revenues and debits. There is no revenue produced by the parks. What was the cost to put in the new bridge in Marilla Park. Although we own it, it is not in the city limits, where's the revenue? Memberships at the two courses you mention are far more than Anderson Fields and neither are paying any taxes to Streator. They annexed the club house at Eastwood for the fire protection, but the course remains out. And yes, I golf with a paid membership to Anderson Fields. Would you desire closing the parks as well? Hey Willy, where ya been? It figures that you would chime in when someone says something about the golf course. You do like to compare it to the parks, although it is clearly not a park at all, is it? It is a tax payer subsidized business competing with two local private sector businesses, and losing money. They added alcohol and are now going for gambling to try to make it not cost taxpayers so much, but as we've seen, all it takes is for someone to put the wrong chemicals on the greens and it doesn't matter what they sell at the clubhouse. Is also competing directly with Suzi across the street going to make the difference in profitability there? With alcohol and gambling, it is clearly not intended to be a family activity center, is it? Do you think that government should be competing with private sector businesses? How many golf courses can Streator support? Streator can't support a movie theatre, a pool, a real estate office, etc., but do you think it can support three golf courses? Is it really fair to the small private businesses to have to compete with the taxpayer bank roll? Maybe there should be some other type of recreation there that isn't already offered by the private sector, maybe something geared towards families. Because I have an opinion against your beloved golf course, are you going to again suggest violence against me?
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Post by greekgod on Apr 18, 2015 20:39:24 GMT -6
Willy,
Don't take the bait.
g
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Post by ironeagle on Apr 19, 2015 10:30:57 GMT -6
Contracts can be CHANGED over time. It Stated to be Maintained as long as the CITY COULD AFFORD IT in his WILL. With it LOSING 20 Grand a Year how in the HELL can we AFFORD it ANYMORE we closed the City pool for A HELL OF A LOT LESS a couple Years ago in this City Yet ANDERSON is left as is and the City pours MONEY INTO THE BLACK HOLE IT IS because you Claim it can never be Sold. I got that Information for as long as the City can Afford it off the Anderson Field Site from the CITIES WEBPAGE. We had a Budget HOLE of 1 Million Last Year facing Losing 50% of the State Funding in the Proposed Budget and yet the City Council THINKS IT CAN AFFORD A MONEY LOSING GOLF COURSE. We can not afford it like we can not afford the Top Heavy Admin at the Schools anymore. Time to get the Chainsaws out on the Budgets.
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Post by no1inparticular on Apr 19, 2015 11:50:04 GMT -6
Ironeagle...anderson was left to the city. With the stipulation it not be sold. Thats been posted time and again for those that arent aware. Kyle....I am sure you have seen and understood this before. Anderson was given to the City as a GOLF Course, GOLF ONLY. That was the stipulation. Then where does the gambling come into play?...Was it included in the stipulation that gambling (for profit) could be added?... Not trying to stir the pot but, since I'm not originally from here, I am curious to know what is stipulated in regards to the property...
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Post by ironeagle on Apr 19, 2015 11:54:59 GMT -6
It was Stipulated it was to be used as a Golf Course or Other Rec area as long as the City Saw FIT to use it as SUCH there is nothing in the Gifting that states the City has to Maintain it as a golf Course at ALL Willy.
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Post by dive61364 on Apr 19, 2015 21:31:14 GMT -6
more vandalism at city park was reported in the police beat
Damage to the stage area at Streator City Park was reported Thursday.
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Post by ironeagle on Apr 20, 2015 7:54:13 GMT -6
I thought the Cameras was supposed to Allow our Police to Stop that. Are they even on or just flashing Lights.
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Post by dive61364 on Apr 20, 2015 8:46:04 GMT -6
I thought the Cameras was supposed to Allow our Police to Stop that. Are they even on or just flashing Lights. that's a million dollar question seeing as there has been so much damage and vandalism at the city park since the cameras have been installed.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Apr 20, 2015 8:59:05 GMT -6
Willy, Don't take the bait. g Yes Willy, please don't take the bait. It would be a shame to have you say something else to try to make it seem acceptable for individuals in our schools to judge others and determine who they feel violence should be inflicted upon. Unless of course, you have come to realize that it is wrong for a City leader to promote his violence on a public forum and want to make some statement to try to let students here know that you don't think it is acceptable for them to decide who should be pushed down the stairs or otherwise treated like a Timex. If that is the case, then please do take the bait.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Apr 20, 2015 9:00:50 GMT -6
Ironeagle...anderson was left to the city. With the stipulation it not be sold. Thats been posted time and again for those that arent aware. Kyle....I am sure you have seen and understood this before. Anderson was given to the City as a GOLF Course, GOLF ONLY. That was the stipulation. MANY Communities have Municipal Golf courses. Streator is by no means unique. As for some unfair advantage, I suggest that you consider the same folks that have run Twin Creeks for the last 3 decades were the ones to buy Eastwood. Do you really think they would make that Commitment if they felt it could not generate a profit? Evidently THEY think Streator is still prime for multiple courses. Don't you think they have an informed opinion? It doesn't really matter what you think or what I think or anyone else. They put up the money, they took the risk, they will reap the rewards. I think Anderson has always appealed to local Golfers for various reasons. I believe it still does. Why are so many people hostile about Anderson? It's a nice asset to the Community. If you don't enjoy it, don't go, but no need to blast it for the people that DO enjoy it. Is it hemorrhaging money bad? Yes, I may have seen the false information on here before that has to remain a golf course, but from my understanding from a more trustworthy information source, I understand that it does not need to remain a golf course. I believe that a government run business directly competing with private businesses does have unfair advantages. The City can do whatever they want on their properties(as clearly shown by 220 E. Main St.) and have much control over what competitors can do on their property. If the City puts the wrong chemicals on the greens, killing the entire season. no worries, tax payers will just cover the losses. Private business doesn't have that option and it could be a very devastating situation. I am not hostile at all about the golf course and am not blasting it, just talking about some possible options to try to keep taxpayers from continuing to have to pay to support a money losing business, when that market is clearly already being served. It appears that it is others who get hostile over a simple conversation.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Apr 20, 2015 9:04:55 GMT -6
OK Ironeagle, I read you. It's losing 20k a year. That is a loss when it should be breaking even or perhaps even profitable. 20K. How much do you suppose the City Park generates in profits? Marilla Park? Spring Lake? Those parks do not maintain themselves do they? They cost the Taxpayers money and not everyone can enjoy the great outdoors can they? Maybe some folks are handicapped or have allergies or Asthma or what have you. Does that mean we should shut them down too? I believe Anderson is situated on about 40 Acres MOL. How much would it cost to maintain that large of an area, even minimally mowing and spraying if it were not generating any fees whatsoever? (I bet 20K or more a year) A Municipal Golf Course IS a bit of a perk. It's one of the things that is a nice little extra for a Community. If there is a short fall and they are trying various things to make up for it, that sounds like a prudent thing to do. They offer beer for patrons that might enjoy the tradition of a couple beers after a round of Golf. If they offer gaming machines to help make up the deficit, aren't they just trying their best to stay in the Black? You really can't please everyone. You just have to weigh out all the concerns and try to make the best decision you can. I wish we still had a pool, basketball hoops and all sorts of stuff. Just because we DON'T is no reason to shut down the Golf Course, close City Parks and go way off the deep end. Let's focus on ways to keep as many good things as we can in our Community. I commend the people in charge for seeking ways to bring it into the Black and cost Taxpayers less money. It's the responsible thing to do. The golf course is clearly not a park, is it? Don't I have to pay to use Anderson Fields, while there is no charge to use the actual parks? If I do pay, can I find a nice patch of grass with a built in cup holder and have a picnic there? Can people take their young kids there to run around? Do our other parks serve alcohol and promote gambling? Isn't it obvious that it is not a park at all, but a golf business? Why are you comparing parks to a golf business? Isn't that like comparing apples to oranges? Our parks are usable by a much wider segment of the community than the golf course. I wonder what percentage of Streator citizens actually golfed at Anderson Fields over the last year. Isn't interest in golf on a decline across the country? www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/03/05/why-america-fell-out-of-love-with-golf/espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/12461331/number-us-golf-courses-steady-decline-says-reportwww.forbes.com/sites/bobcook/2014/05/23/how-a-declining-middle-class-is-killing-golf/Don't those articles along with our declining population indicate that our three courses will continue to have less customers? In the battle for the remaining customers in the future, won't all three suffer? You can ask greek(who seems to think he is some type of capitalism expert) about over saturated markets with a declining customer base, to see how he sees the future of the golf industry playing out here. Maybe, being such a big shot investor, he will offer to fund some type of Streator Municipal Golf Course Bond to isolate tax payers from any future losses from their business. You might also ask him how government(who clearly doesn't follow its own laws) competing directly with private businesses figures into his version of Capitalism. I would ask him myself, but he doesn't answer my questions. While golf courses are on the decline across the country, more public parks are being called for and seen as a way to revitalize cities. You and Willy seem to be the only ones talking about closing parks in response to their golf business continuing to lose money. Why on earth would you want to close our parks? Are you suggesting that just out of spite because people are being realistic about business? Aren't there good profits from selling alcohol? Wasn't the addition of alcohol sales there supposed to make it viable? Why hasn't it? Doesn't it really appear that there must be some problem with the way they run a business? Maybe we should be looking into how many bottles they buy and what type of yields they are getting there? Now, to try to make their business that has been failing for many years moire viable, they are going to go into direct competition with another private business that invested in our community by filling one of our many vacant retail spaces right across the street. Isn't gambling the main revenue stream for Suzi's? Isn't there only a certain amount of money available to be put into those machines and can't it be expected that our City will be taking away from Suzi's revenue? So with alcohol and now gambling there, obviously our City doesn't intend for Anderson Fields to be a place for people under 21(unlike parks). Instead of promoting vices, I would prefer to have our tax payer funded amenities be ones that would attract more families to the area.
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