|
CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK
<br /> of South Bend was going to give them $200,000 to redevelop that area. Unfortunately, that was
<br /> almost twenty(20) years ago that that was put into an ordinance, and it expired five(5) years after
<br /> that. So, somebody didn't do their due diligence.
<br /> She continued, Drewry's has been through three (3) owners. Each one (1) of them has been, for
<br /> lack of a nice way to put it, money-grubbing and self-serving. We are now at a point where if we
<br /> didn't know,we have confirmation that for the last five(5) years approximately,my neighborhood
<br /> has been having asbestos blown all over. IDEM is now involved. Is the owner spraying water on
<br /> it twenty-four seven (24/7)? No. Because we're a poor neighborhood. He has sent me obnoxious
<br /> texts. We need to go forward. And as far as the sites that we know of, like the factories, not only
<br /> do we need a list, but if Code Enforcement is not responsible, we have a lot of brown sites. We
<br /> need to know where they are. We are putting our children, not just with lead that we made a big
<br /> deal about a year ago,we are putting our children and the very people that we should be protecting,
<br /> at risk by not addressing this. And if have to call IDEM so that we're not playing little patty-cake
<br /> games anymore, they all ignore us, as Mr. Durkee has done for years. Let's get IDEM in here, let's
<br /> get this fixed, so our people are safe. Thank you.
<br /> Jim Bognar, 807 West Washington Street, stated, Good evening, Council. I find myself in an
<br /> unusual position this evening in that I want to commend Code Enforcement for the work that
<br /> they've done and for their budget, but I also am veryfrustrated. Council has talked a lot about
<br /> Y g �
<br /> neighborhoods. They've had a lot of discussions. They are so often the first (1st) responders, in a
<br /> different way. Not Police and Fire, but the first (1St) responders. I think it's unacceptable to cut
<br /> budgets for demolitions. I think it's unacceptable to hear we may have to cut back on residential
<br /> properties. This is where Council can exert their influence and especially those that are not here,
<br /> you can pass that along. I think it's time to say, "They need more money." I think Councilmember
<br /> Broden was the one (1) that brought up, we need to know what these lists are and where they are.
<br /> Some of these brown fields are actually owned by the Redevelopment Commission, in the case of
<br /> to need weget Legal involved, and we need other help,
<br /> and 1520 West Washington Street. If
<br /> we need to be able to know what the problems are and where they are. And it's unacceptable to be
<br /> told that some of these larger structures, we just can't get to. But, I understand why they can't.
<br /> They're putting things together and holding it together and finding out here this evening, their
<br /> computer systems are failing. It's completely unacceptable.
<br /> He continued, They are the front line of everything we do. And I know every Council Member
<br /> hears, "We got a call. We've got to call Code. We've got to call Code." You always hear the
<br /> negative things. They need more money. Mr. Parker's here let's give them some more money, Mr.
<br /> Parker. That's the most important thing. But Council has the ability now to say, "We're going to
<br /> do something about this. We're going to move forward with this." A few Council Members,
<br /> perhaps future Council Members here, too, it is time to put the neighborhoods first(Pt), to look at
<br /> these large buildings, and to hold people accountable legally for matters of pollution or whatever
<br /> it is. Let's give the resources to Code so they can move forward.These are outstanding people, and
<br /> I think they need it more than anything else, and I think Council should simply say, "No, they
<br /> deserve more funding." Thank you very much.
<br /> Committee Chair White announced,This will be the last person to come forth and then we're going
<br /> to move directly into the Office of Inclusion and Diversity. I don't know how long that presentation
<br /> might be, but I do want to give individuals who are here an opportunity to ask questions in regard
<br /> to the second(2nd)presentation.
<br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT
<br /> 455 County-City Building 227W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana46601 p 574.235.9221 f574.235.9173 TTD574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov
<br /> 19
<br />
|