Board of Aldermen 06-08-2021 Page 14
horse, we had a public hearing, | thought we should wait for the public hearing and hear what the public had to
say about this.
| was outvoted and the Resolution that we adopted at the last meeting | think was a good one. Even though |
voted against it, because | think it is a very strategic purchase. Our Director of Community Development,
Sarah Marchant, spoke about how important it was to acquire this land. Director of Economic Development,
Mr. Cummings, also spoke highly in favor of it. Our Capital Improvements Committee has put on this, this
purchase of this land, they have given it the highest rating, an A1 Rating. And the dog park part of it hasn’t
even been decided yet, even if it is used it is only going to be a portion of this. It’s over 4 acres, the dog park, if
it comes to be, will only be about an acre.
Also on this land there is an antenna. And it is an income producing, there’s a lease for that antenna that
currently | think the rent is somewhere, it’s over $25,000.00 a year. So we have already committed to
purchase this. The question is where is the money going to come from? And the administration has identified
surplus money from the Broad Street Parkway Project where there is $325,000.00 is available, it’s not new tax
money, it doesn’t affect the tax rate at all. Yes, | suppose during the discussion | think CFO Griffin said the
$325,000.00 could be applied to the tax rate for 1 year; what effect that is going to have on the tax rate | think
is pretty small. And | think years from now, as others have pointed out, to think that the City has an opportunity
to buy this land for $325,000.00. If we don’t do it people are going to say, what could you have been thinking?
The Resolution we adopted at our last meeting to buy the land was a good one. And where do we come up
with the $325,000.00 if it’s not from this excess money that is not new tax money it is going to have to come
from somewhere else, you know, the General Fund. And that will be tax money that will affect the tax rate. |
can’t help but point out that we just voted to borrow over $3 million dollars for sewer replacement and lining of
the sewer pipes, very much needed project. But we have agreed to borrow over $3 million dollars without a
peep, without anybody saying anything about it and here we are, people are upset because we are going to
spend $325,000.00 of money we already have on this very worthwhile project. So | hope that the people who
have contacted me in opposition to this understand. | heard what you said about it but | think this is a smart
thing for us to do so | am going to vote for it. Thank you.
President Wilshire
Alderman Harriott-Gathright.
Alderman Harriott-Gathright
Thank you Madam Chair. From what | understand in the meeting that | did attend the funding is coming from
the Broad Street project. But one of the questions | had, | remember | asked the question as in terms of
affordable housing, could we purchase this property, could we put housing on that and | was told that the land
was not that type of land that we build property on. | don’t know exactly the details about it but it wasn’t the
type of land that we could add say apartment building or something of that nature. So | know the Directors and
Capital Improvement gave us great information and | appreciate. So | will be one to vote for this. Thank you,
Madam President.
President Wilshire
You're welcome. Alderman Schmidt?
Alderman Schmidt
Thank you Madam President. Alderman Harriott-Gathright the land is actually in the flood plain which means it
always has a capacity to flood so housing there would be a terrible mistake. Just a few points, Ward 1 has
access to this wonderful park. We have parking there, we have a bridge over the river, children can play in the
fields nearby, it is wonderful. Wards 3 and 4 could have access to the park legally, having parking area, have
a place for their dogs to play, place for runners to come and go and if we don’t do this, they won’t have that. It
