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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 23, 2009
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<br />Mr. Paul Phair, Holladay Properties, 227 S. Main St., South Bend, Indiana, spoke in favor
<br />of this bill.
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<br />Mr. Phair advised that this bill would improve and extend Auten Road to provide for
<br />increased economic development in the City of South Bend and improve the safety of the
<br />residents. He noted that he understands that the Auten Road Connector’s completion is
<br />several years away from being complete, until development justifies that construction. He
<br />urged the Council’s favorable consideration of this bill.
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<br />The following individuals spoke in opposition to this bill.
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<br />Rita Kopala, 61559 Ivy Road, Lakeville, Indiana, spoke in opposition to this bill. She
<br />stated that if she understands it, Holladay bought this property for $280,000. It went
<br />through Redevelopment and then it turned out to be $300,000 and now its $350,000. She
<br />stated that the City for the next three (3) years is going to be in bad financial situations
<br />and stated that this is just another bad decision. Ms. Kopala stated that developers all
<br />over the country are having problems with the sluggish economy trying to make ends
<br />meet. She advised that the City doesn’t have money to just throw away on this kind of
<br />development.
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<br />Ann Jentz, 51312 Mayflower Road, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in opposition to this bill.
<br />She stated that her property is located just south of the proposed Auten Road Extension.
<br />She stated that she was never approached about selling her property and would gladly sell
<br />the house, barn and 11 acres for $350,000 lock, stock and barrel today. She also noted
<br />that her neighbor directly south of her Mr. Joseph Lichtner was not contacted to see if he
<br />was willing to sell, but said that he certainly would sell his 18 acres for $350,000. Ms.
<br />Jentz stated that bottom line that the Council needs to table this and do some negotiations
<br />because the City is being taken and it is her tax dollars in the Major Moves and TIF
<br />money that is going into this project. She urged the Council to be a little bit more careful
<br />on their decisions. Ms. Jentz stated that she doesn’t see why this developer should get
<br />this money; she stated “frankly, if Mr. Phair wants this project then why the hell isn’t he
<br />donating it.” She stated that Holladay purchased this property and she doesn’t think that
<br />the taxpayers should be on the hook for this. This road doesn’t need to be constructed,
<br />because the development is going no where. Blackthorn isn’t filled and there are many
<br />other projects in South Bend that are not filled yet either. She questioned why is the City
<br />coming out to the extreme north end and adding yet another development that is never
<br />going to be filled.
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<br />Tom Zmyslo, 51042 Prairieview Way, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in opposition to this
<br />bill. Mr. Zmyslo urged the Council to vote against Bill No. 11-09 to allow $350,000 in
<br />Major Move’s monies to be spent for the Auten Road extension. He stated that no matter
<br />where the money comes from whether it’s TIF or Major Moves, or stimulus money,
<br />would be better spent to rejuvenate the infrastructure in the inner city of South Bend.
<br />Sewer lines, waters, line, curbs, sidewalks, streets, electric lights, bridges etc. He stated
<br />that President Obama stated that politicians need to be held accountable for their actions.
<br />He stated that he tries to follow that and believes that he does a good job doing that. He
<br />stated that the City of South Bend is really being neglected. This money should not be
<br />used for pet projects for a road going nowhere and for a developer. He stated that when
<br />Blackthorn was constructed back in 1990 on 3,500 acres and was supposed to be the
<br />center of industrial employment in northern Indiana by the year 2010, and it is a far cry
<br />from that. There is substantial land out in Blackthorn for sale by a realtor that has been
<br />trying to peddle this land for years and hasn’t been too successful. He stated that he took
<br />pictures of 52 signs with land, or buildings, or leases on properties between Lincolnway
<br />and Cleveland and between Olive Rd. and Bendix Dr. The residents of German
<br />Township do not want their township divided in half by the City. The people of South
<br />Bend deserve better and their monies should be spent on police, fire and infrastructure
<br />improvements in the inner city. He stated that if the Council truly represents the citizens
<br />of South Bend, they need to look at the vacate property in the inner city for sale. He
<br />stated that he drove around when Blackthorn was being expanded to the west and the
<br />inner City was bad already at that time and it’s gotten a whole lot worse. If it wasn’t for
<br />relocations of businesses from the inner city to Blackthorn, it would probably be a
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