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Tuesday night saw the IT Town Council vote 4-1 to approve the financing for the Blythe property. The lone dissenting vote was outgoing member Don Helms. Surprisingly enough, it was Mr. Helms that alerted the council to the Blythe property availability. He apparently in the subsequent votes that took place, only provided that for information purposes only not for the council to actually action.


The Mayor strongly opposed the land purchase of the Blythe property. If memory serves she cited the fact that it was too far off the road, was afraid of complacentcy on the part of the town to do a future town hall. She has by far been the strongest supporter of the new town hall or as I like to call it the "monument to government excess" that has been on the council. She also stated that she would not support this purchase unless the Blythe property was immediately moved into, with no improvements, and the existing location torn down and construction of the new facility was begun immediately. Wow!! Let's not worry about the employees or town business being accomplished but let's start an unfunded project of 8 million dollars immediately?

Let's for a moment go back to the dissenting vote of Don Helms. The night the downtown project was approved a couple of years ago, with 44 conditions, Councilman Helms was asked by Mr. Schallenkamp and myself how he could approve a project with so much density? His answer was that they took care of the town and that they really stuck it to the developer. They will have to do all the conditions so the town is protected. (Gist of the conversation not exact quote).


The Raco property was also purchased with a 5-0 vote and no dissenting opinions. Though that property now has to be tested for well contamination? Due dilligence for the proposed purchase of the property.


So what is the problem really with the land purchases and current location? Let look at the pros and cons:

Pros CONS

Town Gains Assets The Mayor Doesn't Like
Larger downtown footprint
Cheaper
No assets given up in trade
Not tied to any one project
Can build town hall on any of 3 locations
Better negotiation position
Fits in the Downtown Overlay District
The Mayor doesn't like it

I think the current council got this right. If the new town hall is built in the project area, this purchase makes sense. Acommodity that continues to go up in price and once development starts the sky is the limit. This purchase allows the town wiggle room if you will and affords us opportunities for the future. The downtown project can proceed just as if the town hall would be over there...in fact I believe it makes it cheaper for the developer especially with the stormwater solutions. Here is an idea. Develop the project and where the town hall was proposed leave as open space and add some trees. It will increase the amount of open space that was lacking on the project and the rooftops may not have to be counted as open space. Just a thought.