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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 27, 2011 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />that he would like to speak passionately too. He went to Oliver School, Linden School, <br />and Central High School, all of which have been torn down, so where is his legacy. He <br />stated that it was mentioned that this project doesn’t compare to lights at recreational <br />facilities that is in genuine. He stated that the citizens on the west side get short changed, <br />they don’t have a swimming pool and the children don’t have anything to do. He stated <br />that they can play with raccoons and possums from all the development that has been <br />created around the city and created the doughnut in which they were talking about. He <br />stated that is the legacy that they have. He urged the Council to look around and see <br />what is happening in the city. He urged the Council to vote against this bill. <br /> <br />Diane Schalegly, 709 Cushing Street, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she has been a <br />resident of the City for approximately 10 years. She stated that she echoes the sentiments <br />of the previous speakers and is in complete agreement with them. She stated that she is <br />also concerned about the children here who don’t have the necessary items to grow up <br />healthy and happy. She stated that she resents as a taxpayer the fact that no matter what <br />fund these monies are coming from they are taxpayer monies and should not be going to <br />a private school. She stated that this sets a dangerous precedent. She stated that this <br />opens the door for all other denominations to come and ask for taxpayer money. She <br />urged the Council to vote against this bill. <br /> <br />Sal Gerschoffer, 2101 Prairie Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he attended a <br />Catholic grade school, Our Lady of Hungary. He stated that he is not against St. Joe <br />building a new high school, but if they raised 35 million dollars already what’s another <br />1.2 million dollars. It should be a drop in the bucket. He questioned who is going to pay <br />St. Joe to use their facility and where is that money going to come from? <br /> <br />In Rebuttal, Mayor Luecke gave a brief review of the LOIT. He stated that the Public <br />Safety Tax is being used 100% for police and fire salaries as they said it would. The <br />other local option income tax that was enacted property tax replacement is providing <br />property tax relief for every tax paying parcel in St. Joseph County. The third local <br />th <br />option income tax that was adopted 2/10 of a percent for economic development income <br />tax and again his proposal to the Council and his position is that those dollars should be <br />used for economic development initiatives. He stated that he believes this is a positive <br />economic development initiative for the City of South Bend and a great leverage to invest <br />1.2 million dollars to get 35 million dollars in private investment and get construction <br />jobs be it may temporary jobs, but very good jobs for the period of time that they are <br />working. He stated that in fact he had people working at the Kroc Center saying that had <br />they had not had that project going on they would have been on unemployment for an <br />extended period of time. He sees that as a positive investment in the community. It’s a <br />positive investment in terms of the excitement and energy that will come to this site not <br />only with the students and their families coming everyday but with the activities that will <br />happen there. He stated not only for St. Joe, but for other schools as well with the <br />transaction and memorandum of understanding to make the facility available for public <br />use as part of the transaction. He stated that it will generate additional investment in the <br />Northeast Neighborhood and the East Bank area. He believes that all of these things will <br />happen and it takes a site that would otherwise be a huge vacant parcel in the near <br />downtown area and brings an excellent institution into the core of downtown. He stated <br />that he is excited to have this investment by St. Joseph High School and believes that it is <br />good for the community and good for the long term as well. He asked the Council for <br />their favorable consideration. <br /> <br />nd <br />Councilmember Dieter made a motion for favorable recommendation of this 2 <br />Substitute Bill to full Council. Councilmember Kirsits seconded the motion which <br />carried by a roll call vote of five (5) ayes (Councilmember’s LaFountain, Puzzello, <br />Kirsits, Rouse, Dieter) and four (4) nays (Councilmember’s Henry Davis, Varner, Oliver <br />Davis, White.) <br /> <br />Councilmember Dieter made a motion for a five (5) minute recess. Councilmember <br />Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of five (5) ayes. Meeting <br />reconvened. <br /> <br /> 10 <br /> <br />