09/16/2003 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 9/16/2003 ,¢.~~ On a personal note, he has previously mentioned, if the city decides to sell the library site to the school boazd, perhaps it should sell for $1. The reason for that is the taxpayers have paid for the construction of the building, and they are now being asked to buy it back again. Mr. Burns' comments sparked a lengthy discussion. Mr. McKay said that, when the bus garage moves out, the Service Dept. is going to move in. There will not be a large amount of space available. Regarding giving the library to the schools, he does not agree. The city has paid for the building a thousand times over by funding the school guards for the past 20 yeazs. Perhaps the schools should buy two or three houses next to the city complex to give to the city in return for the library site. Mr. Burns said that he realized the Service Dept. would use the garage space. However, there is office space and locker space that is duplicated. Space wold be freed up on the second floor back behind Finance that is currently used as locker rooms and offices of the Service Dept. Mr. Limpert commented that the city has many needs, such as recreational property. The city has done more than its shaze to help schools in as many ways as possible. The dollars from the sale of the library should be turned into other needs for our municipality that will be enjoyable to citizens and enhance the quality of life in our city. He hopes the schools can use the building and will buy it, but it's not in our best interest to just give it away. Mr. Burns said the reason school guazds aze paid for by the city is legal liability as they operate within city rights-of--way. One issue to be kept in mind is tax abatement which meant the schools did not receive all the tax money it should have. Mr. McKay disagreed as he noted Mayor Boyle made agreements which provided the schools would receive the same amount of tax money. Mr. Miller asked Mr. Burns to remember that the school boazd and city have different responsibilities. For one to give money or valued property to the other, it is not fulfilling their responsibility to do their job. The city would not be fulfilling its responsibility to provide city services if we gave away our assets. Mr. Burns said both entities have a responsibility to give taxpayers the most they can for their dollar. If taxes have to be increased in order to cover their obligations, then residents azen't getting the most they can for their dollar. Charles Dial, 27959 Gardenia ^ About the condition of the city, he has noticed in his neighborhood there is a substantial increase in amount of trash and debris thrown out of cars. He i5 disappointed that people aren't picking up what lands in their Yazd. Picking up a few things a week is not too high a price for keeping the neighborhood up. ^ He is intrigued about high utility bills at the library building and how the school board is in such a tremendous hurry to relieve the city of these bills. ^ Regarding Mr. Lambert's comments, he took it as impugning the motives and integrity of the people in the recall movement. They feel they have a very serious issue. Part of what is a continuing issue is dramatized by what they see are the problems at Springvale. 15