No TIF requests, no worries
When a developer mentions tax increment financing, many people expect a plea for a handout to follow shortly.
When Mayor Ken Shearin saw that wasn’t the case, he leaned back in his chair and let out a sigh of relief.
Ken Boone, a land use consultant working for Buchanan County, visited the city’s planning and zoning committee Monday to give a five-year update on the North County Shoppes TIF agreement.
Five minutes into the presentation, Mr. Shearin asked Mr. Boone to stop because only four members of the City Council showed up. He said the Shoppes’ TIF was too important, so the meeting should resume at a later date.
Buchanan County commissioners — who pay Mr. Boone and attended the meeting on their day off — balked at the mayor’s idea.
“It’ll be on the city’s dime if you want to pay him to do it again,” commissioner Dan Hausman said.
Everyone in the room agreed that more council members should have attended and the meeting resumed without incident. Even so, the mayor looked skeptical.
The information Mr. Boone gave was not new, but provided context for council members who were not in office when the city approved the Shoppes’ TIF five years ago. For example, he explained that developed sites like the Shoppes at North Village retail center have already started to receive TIF funds. Projects under construction, like the Green Acres Building, will not receive any money until they’re open for business.
More detailed information about funding, infrastructure and additional development will be given at a City Council meeting in the near future, Mr. Boone said.
As the presentation ended, Mr. Shearin asked Mr. Boone what he wanted to get out of the city as a result of the meeting.
“We are not asking for anything from the council,” Mr. Boone said. “We are providing information.”
Mr. Shearin responded with one word: “Relieved.”
Clinton Thomas can be reached
at clintonthomas@npgco.com.
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Once again Shearin proves himself to be a dofus. Since so many of our council members did not have the respect or concern to appear to hear this presentation is no reason to reschedule it. What to accomodate their busy schedules? Give me a break.
Posted by shockedandamazed on October 14, 2008 at 7:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)Instead of bashing Shearin maybe the question should be who didn't attend.
Posted by heritage on October 14, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)will mr. thomas please provide the readers with names of the members present?
Posted by ClintonThomas on October 14, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)Sorry that I left out the names of who attended and who did not. I got a little sidetracked on deadline. Here you go...
Present: Donna Jean Boyer, Mike Bozarth, Gary Roach, Barbara LaBass
Not present: Mike Hirter, Joyce Starr, Bill Falkner, Roger Baker
Posted by MomInMissouri on October 14, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)Is it possible for John Q Public to find the attendance record for our particular council member? I'm curious to know about my particular council person specifically.
Posted by apmastrangelo on October 14, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)shockedandamazed - Good observation and exactly the point.
Posted by ninja_man on October 14, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)The mayor is correct in his concern over having a meeting of this nature proceed with so many not in attendance.
If presiding over this meeting I assure you Commissioner Hausman would have received a response to his "on your dime" comment that he would have fully understood, not liked, and put things in a much different perspective.
It is time for those in elected office to understand that not all processes evolve around their convenience or needs.
I find it interesting that everyone in the room agreed that more council members should have attended and the meeting resumed without incident. Even so, the mayor looked skeptical... how many times have we seen or heard about the mayor looking skeptical?
Posted by wildwest on October 14, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)food for thought i guess...
Again this is another example of the lack of attention politicians give to the public interest. This should not have even have been an issue, all our elected officials should have been there. This is one of the main reasons many things are they way they are in this City. Lack of involvement through elected leaders unless there is a specific agenda that they will benefit from. Cannot wait to the next voting cycle.
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