On the Agenda for the Batavia City Council meeting Tuesday, September 6, 2016, 7:30 pm, is the Washington-Wilson Redevelopment Agreement, and the purchase of 2 properties related to that project. One property is the Frydendall property, previously discussed, but the second is brand new, never revealed before the agenda was posted Friday afternoon. That property is the Larson-Becker property on N. River St. Continue reading
If a survey were to be done of Batavia residents, it is likely most would favor the redevelopment of the Baptist church property at Washington and Wilson, AS LONG AS the redevelopment were done in a responsible way. So what is it that many are objecting to with this proposed 1 N. Washington project?
The BPS101 tentative budget for 2016-17 is now on display here. The public hearing on the budget is scheduled for August 23, 2016.
The budget is more detailed than in years past. Last year’s new Finance Director hire, Tony Inglese, has added footnotes to explain some of the changes in the budget–a welcome improvement. Also welcome is several weeks between public hearing and budget vote, so the Board can digest public comments.
There were some odd increases that weren’t explained with footnotes (like a nearly $800k increase in the Finance Department), but questions have been sent to Mr. Inglese for clarification. Continue reading
The City of Batavia seems determined to put a massive development on the corner of Wilson and Washington. The first step is to buy the remaining 2 private properties in their target area. Tuesday, August 9, the City Council COW voted 9-3 to send the purchase agreement for 121 E. Wilson to full Council for vote Monday night, August 15. [Update: the vote has been postponed, ostensibly till Frydendall will be in town for the closing.] They need 10 votes to finalize the sale agreement. 2 aldermen were missing, but are expected to approve it. (Aldermen Botterman, Callahan, and Hohmann were the NO votes.)
The property at 121 E. Wilson is owned by former alderman Eldon Frydendall, with a current assessed value of $ 28,468. Assessed value is approximately 1/3 the estimated market value, meaning if it were to be sold on the open market, the owner can expect to receive around $85,400 for it. The amount negotiated for sale to the City of Batavia is $195,000, plus and additional $13,100 in closing costs, attorneys fees, and moving expenses, for a grand total of $208,100. That’s for a property the City will demolish — also with taxpayer money — and sell to the developer, along with the other properties, for $10.
If you do not agree with this purchase, especially if you live in Wards 4 or 6, please contact your aldermen. (Click the button at right to contact your aldermen via email, or better yet, attend the Council meeting Monday night.) Paula Mueller, Ward 4, and Mike Russotto, Ward 6, are thought to be the most likely to be persuaded to change their votes to NO (there was hesitancy in their votes and they’ve shown good judgement before). But they need to hear from their constituents.
One of the biggest arguments against this purchase at this time is that there is no Redevelopment Agreement in place. There will have to be a Request for Proposal sent out to see if other developers are interested, a parking study needs to be done, the other property they want to purchase needs to reach Council, etc. If this purchase goes through and the parking study comes back they need much more parking and Shodeen walks away, the City will own an overpriced property that, as if the waste of taxpayer $ is not enough, has been taken off the tax rolls. There is no reason this must be done NOW!
One argument Council members are using is that they want to control that property. The question to ask is, “Why?” Why do they want to control what is now private property? There are, after all, many mechanisms already in place where the City directs in some way what gets built. Purchasing private property to get control of the town is a dangerous precedent to set.
The Batavia City Council is considering a proposal for a large building project by One North Washington, LLC, a creation of Shodeen, a Geneva developer. The 6 story building would have 2 levels of parking, retail/commercial space at ground level on Wilson and River streets, and 4 floors of high-end apartments. Of the 171 proposed apartments, 99 would be 2-bedroom units. There would be 300 parking spaces in the parking garage for the residents of the 171 rental units, plus the citizens who work and shop and dine in downtown Batavia. The project would take up most of the block on the northwest section of Wilson and Washington Streets on the east side of the river.
The City would purchase the 2 remaining private properties in the area of the proposed development and sell them, along with the old Baptist church the City had bought for over $700,000, the public parking garage, and other lots to the developer for $10. Then the City would issue $13 million in General Obligation bonds (backed by taxpayer dollars) and give that money to the developer for the project. Continue reading
On the BPS101 agenda for May 24, 2016 is item 7.2 Insurance Renewal. The recommendation before the School Board is to increase insurance premiums 15.7% to cover the cost of health care expenses and to build up the severely depleted insurance reserve.
Why does this matter? The employees of BPS101 have extremely generous health insurance plans, with the majority share (70-100%) of the premiums being borne by the taxpayers. Continue reading
Want to see your property tax bills before you receive them in the mail (to be mailed April 27)? The Kane County Clerk has them available now online at http://www.co.kane.il.us/coc/Tax/tax.asp. In the left column under “Tax Extension”, click on “Current Tax Search”, then enter your parcel number or street name to locate your property.
The Daily Herald reports the average tax bill in Kane County will increase $53, less than one percent. That will vary based on things like which taxing districts you belong to, the assessed value of your home, and whether your home gained or lost value relative to others’ homes. Continue reading
On Jan. 26, the same night the Batavia School Board approved artificial turf, taxpayer-funded preschool was also approved. Tuition that parents have paid for their children to attend preschool at BPS 101 will be replaced by taxpayer funding and a lottery system. This will add over $30,000 to the budget.
Below is a letter written to the school board before the vote, that explains some objections to their decision: Continue reading
The Batavia School Board approved by unanimous consent artificial turf for Bulldog Stadium, at a cost of $1.42 million when combined with the track. Board member John Dryden, who had previously come out against the turf, changed his mind to make the vote unanimous.
Installation will begin as early as May 2016.
School Board
City Council
Batavians for Responsible Government 