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REGULAR MEETING JULY 9, 2012 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />façade and any other place that you go with this type of situation, clearly would call for <br />condemnation. He stated however they go; there are a couple viable solutions. He stated <br />that he is asking that they move forward if this particular bid does not win out, and try to <br />make sure that this building stays a viable part of downtown. He stated earlier that this <br />building is too big to fail, he would hate to see this building not exist, more business <br />move out, he stated that he feels that they have had enough businesses move out, since <br />this last debacle last winter. He stated that he is really looking forward to working with <br />the administration and whomever to make sure that we are in constant talks with the <br />receiver and also the bank. He stated that Mr. Schmuhl provided us with some <br />information earlier today during the sub-committee about some of the conversations that <br />he has had with the receiver and also someone that he has forwarded over to him as well. <br />He stated that he thinks that they have to a minimum done something’s, but thinks that <br />we could do a lot more by injecting ourselves into it to make sure that this buildings stays <br />in the forefront and that it is a priority for the downtown area. He urged the Council to <br />adopt this resolution unanimously. <br /> <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis stated that some of Councilmember Henry Davis’s <br />presentation mentioned conversations with St. Joseph County officials regarding the <br />property taxes on the building. He asked if those could be done. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis, Jr., stated that would be a fair conversation. He stated that <br />this is with the judge, let’s be clear, it’s in the courts, but he thinks that we have a way of <br />talking and adding some comments into the conversation about the building itself and <br />probably what we are willing to do to make the sale more attractive. <br /> <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis asked if making the sale more attractive is someone from <br />the administration putting in some wording that basically could be suggested. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis, Jr., stated legally that he thinks that they have the ability to <br />do it. There is a number of attorney’s upstairs, we have our own, and he thinks that we <br />can be creative to make sure that something like that could take place. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dr. Fred Ferlic stated that he certainly supports the resolution with the <br />caveat that this is a private enterprise matter and he doesn’t want the taxpayer to be stuck <br />with the major cost of this, with either renovation or any other part of the sale. He stated <br />that he supports the general overall resolution that Henry is saying, to try to find a <br />solution to this, but he thinks the question is going to be at what price to the taxpayer. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis stated how fair is it when some of the businesses that are in <br />the building pay taxes. <br /> <br />Councilmember Ferlic stated that is up to them. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis stated that being fair to the taxpayer, businesses are <br />taxpayers and when we want to have these conversations, be clear about who pays taxes <br />and who doesn’t pay taxes. He stated that he is probably going to guess that businesses <br />pay their fair share of taxes, payroll, property taxes, and whatever tax they get taxed on, <br />that’s why we have the State Mandate with HB 1001, capping property taxes at a certain <br />level because people are paying a lot of taxes. Here in St. Joseph County we tend to have <br />another added tax to the deal with the LOIT increase that makes it even more difficult for <br />business owners around here. So when we are talking about taxes, lets talk about it <br />clearly and such a way that we understand. He stated that people who own businesses <br />pay taxes so do their workers. <br /> <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis concurred, and stated that this is one thing that he like <br />about this resolution is that it puts all the options that we can and allows the <br />administration could work along with them. He stated that he doesn’t think that it is time <br />for us to restrict anything at this present time, because there are so many things still are <br />out their and lets just go with it and see where we are. Let’s continue conversations with <br />the administration, working with the county to see where we are and see how this whole <br />thing plays out before we commit ourselves. <br /> 13 <br /> <br />