On Monday evening, Mr. Holland, (a taxpayer and resident of the City of Salisbury) asked Mr. John Pick if the City had in fact paid the $1.00 to the County for 1/2 of the GOB, (Government Office Building)?
Mr. Pick responded, (more or less) I don't think I understand your question correctly? Mr. Holland went on to explain in better detail, yet everyone in the room knew exactly what Mr. Holland was asking, so the red flag was already up as soon as Mr. Pick stated he didn't understand.
Nevertheless, once Mr. Pick was more clear about the question he answered it by saying YES, the City had paid the $1.00 for their 1/2 of the building. Well, NO, the City has NOT done so and I confirmed this today.
I have been making rounds of calls today trying to get answers and I have in fact confirmed the City has not paid for their share of the agreement. Mr. Pick flat out did not tell the truth.
So what does this mean to you as a taxpayer? Well, if you hadn't noticed, the Daily Times has been playing partner with the City/Mayor by putting up Editorial suggestions on this matter and poll questions and even their Hey You section of their on line version asking citizens if they would like to see a new GOB for the City of Salisbury alone?
I have personally found this to be a very slick move as the Mayor wants to encourage seeing the taxpayers pay out millions of additional dollars for a new building and NOT pay the $1.00 for their 1/2 of the current building.
Mr. Comegys told me one evening that he would rather see a new building go up because the one they're in is getting OLD. Granted, there would be upkeep on that building but I can assure you of one thing, that building is a VERY sound building. Secondly, YOU paid for it! That's right, the taxpayers in the City of Salisbury as well as the County paid for it, so why walk away from millions of dollars worth of equity? It makes no sense at all!
So it is extremely important that the taxpayers push this Mayor into finalizing that agreement and guess what? In the very least they could always SELL their share of 1/2 of that building to the County, unless I'm wrong? However, I doubt that I am. There is literally millions of dollars in equity in this building in which the taxpayers have already paid for.
Mr. Holland, I know you read this Blog every day. You were right in asking that question and you were NOT told the truth. The City has NOT paid $1.00 for their share of that building and the citizens of Salisbury need to put their foot down and stop these lies! It makes me sick whenever I think back to Louise Smith running on ACCOUNTABILITY! There is no accountability in the City of Salisbury and I just wonder how long everyone is going to continue taking this crap from certain parties?
I am reviewing additional contracts on the agreement between the City & the County and when I'm finished I will bring up another Post on this matter.
Art Goetz Said.....
ReplyDeleteI agree totally Joe. We (that is the city) has no business walking away from a building the tax payers (all of us) have paid for and is as you put it, a very sound bldg. So, just why do we need a new city council and mayor's facility? Have a question too. How much did the City pay toward this building to get off with only $1.00 charged to use it per year? And who actually owns the building? The County,city or in reality only the county? Answers to these questions may shed some real light on the $1.00 deal and answer Mr. Holland correctly. Good that you brought this up, Mr. Holland! And shame on you Mr. Pick for telling him it had been paid, when you had to know it had NOT been paid.