05/17/82 Board of Public Works Minutes

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295 E REGULAR MEETING FILING OF STREET LIGHT OUTAGE REPORT The report indicated a total of fo May 10 through May 12, 1982. Upon Leszczynski, seconded by Mr. Hill filed. APPROVAL OF CLAIMS MAY 17, 1982 ur outages for the period of a motion made by Mr. and carried, the report was Mr. Elroy J. Kelzenberg, Director of the Michiana CETA Consortium, submitted P. 0. No. 894 through No. 942 and recommended approval. Chief Deputy Controller Sherrie L. Petz submitted Claim Docket No. 8500 through No. 8772 and recommended approval. Upon a motion made by Mr. Hill, seconded by Mr. Leszczynski and carried, the reports were filed and the claims approved. COMPLAINTS OF T. BROOKS BRADEMAS Mr. T. Brooks Brademas, local developer, complained to the Board that, because of a lack of communication with the Mayor and the lack of common sense and understanding by the Common Council, he was appealing to the Board to give him answers to some questions he had concerning the demolition of the Odd Fellows Building, lease of the Freeman -Spicer Building for the Studebaker car collection and the renovation of an old home in the Monroe Sample Development Area. He referred to several newspaper articles in talking about destruction of the Odd Fellows Building for no purpose but to now plant grass and trees with no taxes coming back to the city since it appeared there would be no Century Mall nor no new bus terminal constructed. Mr. Leszczynski and Mr. Hill explained that the planting of the trees and grass was a temporary measure to alleviate the problem of blowing dirt and sand in the downtown area until such time that the property would be sold for construction of a building. When Mr. Brademas talked about the negotiations with Transpo being at a standstill because of "air rights", Mr. Hill pointed out that any building constructed on the site, . whether a bus terminal or not, would ultimately have to fit in and relate to other facilities in the block if any plans for a mall were to come about. Mr. Brademas advised that he had made a commitment to the city to save the Odd Fellows Building and make it a viable, taxable building in the downtown area, and the Mayor and Redevelopment Commission had ignored him. He stated that the Mayor and city officials had also ignoted his request to help house the Studebaker car collection. Under his proposal,.he had been willing to invest $150,000, along with Lowe's; Inc. and, at the end of 15 years, the city would be given the facility, rather than spending $72,000 per year leasing the facility. He felt there was a lack of basic common sense used by the city officials on the Odd Fellows Building demolition and the lease of the Freeman -Spicer Building. He could not understand why his offers to help the city had been turned down. Throughout his remarks, Mr. Brademas continually denigrated city officials on the decisions made. At one point, Mr. Kernan asked him to refrain from doing so stating that there was simply a difference in opinion and no reason to constantly degrade the Council and administration. Mr. Kernan advised Mr. Brademas that the figure of $72,000 for lease of the Freeman - Spicer Building would be paid by Lowe's on a yearly basis and not the city. Those payments would also be applied to the purchase price of the facility if the city desired to purchase the building after the lease term. He pointed out that the city may have to come up with an approximate amount of $30,000 for needed repairs and renovation of the structure to house the vehicles. He emphasized that the Mayor felt the Freeman -Spicer Building was the best option to pursue. Mr. Brademas stated that he had hoped to be given a chance to acquire a beautiful older home and lease/purchase property from Redevelopment in the Monroe - Sample Development Area on which to move the structure. He