Congrads!

Now, we hope that the new Board will care more about its current residents than the future of the intersection of 176 & 47 and its development.

Lakewood has neither the expertise nor need for such follies….a minor league baseball team??

The outgoing team was out of touch.

AND, the idea of making the current Village Hall into a restaurant is more shear folly, ask someone in the business!

If the loss is less than even one year of the potential tax liability that the current situation exposes us to, then we’re far better off.

inish you spelled AMEN wrong!!!

Congratulations, Paul!

Now… get down to doing the public’s business and not that of the establishment/promoter types.

It’s easy to be a no name, armchair quarterback on a blog too (I will give Steve credit for using his name).

There are so many nameless individuals on this and other blogs that seem to have a lot of ideas and criticism but don’t show up and participate.

They are no different from those that complain and don’t vote.

While I was NOT involved in the land purchase and generally don’t agree with government purchasing real estate this purchase makes sense.

– The property was in foreclosure and was purchased below market price. In fact, the purchase contract between Lakewood and the bank included a claw back clause wherein the Village would be required to surrender some of the profit to the bank if the Village should turn around and sell the property for a profit within a set time frame. This has recently expired.

– A portion of the property is needed for intersection improvements at 176 and 47. Would you have preferred the Village wait until the property was purchased by a private owner, then enter in to costly negotiations with a new owner or possibly an eminent domain proceeding? Spending money on attorneys and eminent domain fights does not save taxpayers money.

– By purchasing the property, Lakewood was moved up on the list for State money to fund the improvements because there wouldn’t be a costly fight to obtain the property needed for the improvements.

– Lakewood may even be able to sell the remainder of the property that is not needed for the improvements and recoup most, if not all, of the initial purchase cost. This would result in a net SAVINGS to the tax payer over the plan suggested by other commentor.

– Making bad decisions that cost Village residents money and blaming it on a previous Board is a foolish suggestion. As stewards of Village finances, Trustees are required to do what is best for the Village. Just because we do not believe in a previous Boards actions, does not give us the right to damage Village finances.

– Selling off property at a loss, simply for the sake of selling it makes you a TAX WASTER. Blaming it on someone else makes you a child. As government officials we are constantly at the mercy of our predecessors. All we can do is make informed decisions moving forward.

– Selling Village assets and reducing cash reserves may temporarily and artificially reduce taxes for ONE year but it could also negatively affect the Village bond rating. If our bond rates rise, the interest on our debts will rise and the savings residents thought they were getting will be erased in future tax years. I am excited to see how the tax fighters will cut 10%, permanently, from our Village budget while maintaining the level of service our residents expect. This means cutting at least $300,000 from a $3,000,000 budget and equates to about $225 per home in a tax year.

– Selling Village assets and spending cash reserves to reduce taxes is similar to a person spending money from their savings account and pretending their expenses for the year were less because they did not need more income. Lakewood infrastructure is aging, there are water and sewer main repairs that will need to be done. Paying for those repairs from cash reserve funds will cost residents less than borrowing money.

– Developing commercial property in Lakewood is the only real solution to a tax reduction. Route 47 and 176 is the best answer. Do I believe we should build a sportsplex or baseball stadium? No, I don’t believe the Village should build anything but if a developer wants to RISK HIS OWN FUNDS, that is a different story.

And while we are on the topic of 176 and 47, there is NOT a ticking tax time bomb.

All development in that area is Planned Unit Development (PUD).

This means the Village Board must approve any development and can set the parameters on how that will happen.

No Village Board is going to approve residential development in that area.

(1)Lakewood needs commercial in that area and

(2)They know the damage it will do to the Village budget.

Steve, hopefully you are able to attend some Board meetings.

It would be great to meet you in person.

Now that the claw back has expired, I would imagine Lakewood could market the remainder of the property it doesn’t need without sharing any potential gain with the bank.

As for the proceeds, my suggestion would be to evaluate the capital needs for Lakewood’s infrastructure and determine if it is prudent to “refund” the money to the taxpayers or use it as a buffer against expenses such as water and sewer main replacement.

Turnberry has several areas that will need attention in the near term and either way residents end up paying.

Having reserves dedicated to replacing aging infrastructure is good for taxpayers.

Excessive reserves, however, would be an entirely different topic.

Jason, I try very hard to avoid meetings.

Let’s just grab some lunch one day soon.

S. Prichard, use your real name. Take my offer to meet face to face. You are great at hurling insults on a blog, but what have YOU done for Lakewood? When will you stand up and contribute?

Not one thing you said contributed to the conversation. You simply wrote a 300 word tantrum trying to insult, belittle and degrade me. If you don’t believe enough in the things you write to use your real name, why should I or anyone else take you seriously?

Residents with the courage to stand up and volunteer in their community will do what is best for Lakewood. Residents that run for Board positions, residents that volunteer for committees, residents like Steve Willson, whom have the courage to use their name and contribute to a discussion. While I may not always agree with what he writes, he takes time to do the research and is confident enough to put his name on it. Research and knowledge are what it takes to make educated decisions.

Lakewood residents are smart. They will see through your scare tactics. They will find the emperor has no clothes, I will be sure of that.

Use your real name and let’s talk Budget vs. Levy, that would be fun.