MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING SIGNED TO SELL KAUFMAN PARK!

[Lynn Farris]

Thanks Matt for an excellent description.

Regarding abatements. Steve, you may remember with the West End situation that because the abatement (TIF) affected a significant amount of funding for the Schools, the City reached an agreement with the schools to make up a portion of their loss through the city income tax revenues. I'm assuming that when the TIF or abatement is significant - the school board members, PTA and citizens would lobby the city council and mayor to make some sort of accomodation.

Which brings me to my question. There is a large TIF outstanding on the Cliff's project I believe - nothing near the size of the West End. I know that they are using fair size area to pay for it - but I'm not sure how many years. I'm assuming that it hasn't been given yet because the project is delayed. Was there any agreement to assist the schools with this? And will this further compound the revenue situation facing the city.

Thanks

[Bill Call]

Tom Jordan's post on the Deck addressing that point made it very clear and explicit that the development of any plan would be open and in the public in front of the various boards and commissions responsible for those reviews.

And, finally, as quoted by the various media references, Mayor George made it very clear that his goal was that any final plan would have to result in a net increase to Lakewood of green space.

If any plan to sell the park would be open and public why was the memorandum of sale kept secret?

If the plan to sell the park would have resulted in a net increase to Lakewood green space why was the memorandum signed even though exhibit A of the memo contained drawings that showed NO green space.

And where in Lakewood can you find 10 acres of land for $2 million to replace the 10 acres that the City agreed to sell?

For example, if the county shows that Property A has a market value of $100,000 in 2007 and Property A sold for $200,000 in 2007, a complaint could be filed with the board of revision to increase the 2007 market value of Property A from $100,000 to $200,000.

Thanks for weighing in.

According to my precise calculations the next property tax bill for the Lakewood Plaza property should be $100,814.7567 due by July 31st 2008.

Of course, if the new owners succeed in having their propert tax bill reduced I would expect every homeowner in Lakewood to share in a similar percentage reduction in their property taxes.

[Jim O'Bryan]

I received an interesting call from the Planning Director for North Royalton, Tom Jordan.

He claimed, we are reading his memos wrong. That while it would appoear to be a solid offer, as they purchased the property. It had been removed from the table by the October 7 posting on the Deck.

I asked for an indepth interview in the coming months, and he assured me he would give the Observer all the time and answers we need.

FWIW


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[Donald Farris]

Hi,

Thanks, Jim. I did read the MOU and agree that it was cancelled. But the city originally signed this without the knowledge of council and the citizens affected. If there was anything that was learned from the West End it is that open government is best. They were still dealing with this guy in relative secrecy.

But the problem has been corrected. We need to learn from history and not make the same mistakes again.

I would like to see an in depth story on this subject.

[Jim O'Bryan]

If there was anything that was learned from the West End it is that open government is best.

Ain't it the truth.


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