Topic: Sparky might be at it again...
started by: minnow fan
Posted by minnow fan on Feb. 23 2004,11:59 am
"Sparks has been putting together a package for whomever is chosen to work on the building, but he said it takes time. He hopes to do it by the end of March.The package does have some parameters, though. The city will sell the building for $1, provide $300,000 for financial aid, and lease parking space."
Just wondering Sparky, will you allow someone to buy this property for $1, then allow them to gut it for anything of value, then allow them to let it sit dilapidated?
No, you woundn't do that Sparky, would you?
< AL Trib >
Posted by rosebudinal on Feb. 23 2004,4:01 pm
Would it surprise anyone?
Posted by MrTarzan on Feb. 23 2004,7:00 pm
No way. Really? Common, I know I am on Candid Camera now. Where are they hiding? 
Posted by minnow on Feb. 23 2004,8:16 pm
It's going to take more than 300K to put back what the first guy who bought it for a dollar took! LOL Sparky doesn't care anymore...he's going to do as he pleases until he's retired...it's part of his "it's all your fault for wanting to get rid of me plan"
Posted by farouk on Feb. 24 2004,8:38 am
Have you ever accepted a free cell phone? How about a free satelite dish? If you have, you quickly found that the deal had nothing to do with the free object but had everything to do with the service that followed. My advise is to pay less attention to the up front transaction and more attention to the substance of the deal. As for the old high school, the school board saw a way to be able to get at money they had set aside for the demolishion of the high school by accepting a $1 for the building. It worked for their budget back when the deal was made, but has created a problem for the city today. Now as far as we are concerned, it makes little difference which body of government got out from under the problem and which governmental unit received the problem, we should be upset because we are the ones who will pay.
Posted by MrTarzan on Feb. 24 2004,8:39 pm
It is sad and laughable, but really most of these transactions do not fall under the catagory of good intentions gone bad, but instead shady deals and corruption that should be looked into by the State Attorney General. Money moved in a shell game from that for which it was originally appropriated has put people behind bars, despite their "good intentions". 
Posted by minnow fan on Feb. 25 2004,11:50 am
"If not used for the library, Sparks is unsure of what will happen to the building, nor is he concerned."I love it, Sparky doesn't give a rats ass what happens to the old Wallyworld building. Yoiu would think he would want someone to occupy & use the building but according to the Trib, he is "not concerned"? Is this guy for real?
Come on Sparky, how about you get something done for a change? Or are you proud of the many vacant buildings in the town you run, those buildings don't concern you?
Boss Hawg is right, Sparky will be the death of Albert Lea, Pam & Jean keep handing him the nails & old Sparky keeps driving them into the coffin.
Posted by Liberal on Feb. 25 2004,12:28 pm
| Quote |
"The building is not suitable for a library," said City Manager Paul Sparks, citing a dilapidated roof, poor structure and crumbling walls. "It's not in that good of shape. It's got a lot of problems. You will have to rebuild it." |
Good thing Wal-Mart got out of there when they did with those crumbling walls.
I can't imagine that anyone will want to buy that building now that Sparks has said that the walls are crumbling.
Posted by Hanna on Feb. 25 2004,12:36 pm
NOTICE: Check your homes. If you see any signs of leaks in your roof or cracks (crumbling) in your basement walls, evacuate immediately.If a building needing some repairs isn't good enough for our city, then most of us will have to leave our houses as well.
Personally, I don't believe the $7.5 million figure, even though the "study" said so.
You watch in the future, that building will be used for something and I bet the new inhabitants won't spend that much.
Posted by churla on Feb. 25 2004,1:01 pm
they will keep coming up with excuses for every option on the new library.they only want new.i say keep it where its at.
Posted by minnow on Feb. 25 2004,1:53 pm
Ventura foods is saving $1,000,000 per year by building their own warehouse on sight. They were paying the JOBZ 1000K per year that that the city will not get now...PLUS we have two very large warehouses to deal with now. That was very poor planning by Jobs...
Posted by cpu_slave on Feb. 26 2004,9:56 am
Come on people, think!Sparks is acting like a salesman, and he needs to sell this new library to make it work. Like any salesman, he is not going to say or do anything to blow the deal, and will go out of the way to show that his opinion is the only one.
For example, anyone with an IQ over room temp can see that other alternatives are not only better for the city, but are also cheaper. Hell, even the firm hired to do the 'study' was told up front what the desired results were and skewed the data to show exactly that pre-determined result. Now where have I seen that before...
Posted by MrTarzan on Feb. 26 2004,10:20 pm
That might all be true cpu_slave, but if we build a new library from scratch people will just peel off the interstate to see it, the economy will take off as a result, and we will generate enough taxes to pay it all off and give everyone in city government a raise. The magic of the printed word
Posted by cpu_slave on Feb. 27 2004,11:46 am
| Quote (MrTarzan @ Feb. 26 2004,10:20:pm) |
| if we build a new library from scratch people will just peel off the interstate to see it, the economy will take off as a result, and we will generate enough taxes to pay it all off and give everyone in city government a raise. |
Now I get it, just like the new high school and new jail are doing now. We better get started on making Bridge Street, Main and Broadway at least 8 lanes wide to accommodate all the traffic coming in! We might as well just pass that 10% sales tax increase to pay for all of this, plus the raises, a monorail, water park, casino, paving the streets with gold, and there even would be enough to give every resident a tax rebate every year! Imagine, getting paid just to ‘live’ here, and there would be a waiting list just for people wanting to move here and enjoy our success! I guess I just wasn't seeing the 'big picture'. Thanks Tarzan!
Posted by The Advocate on Feb. 27 2004,6:56 pm
I am angry about the comments Mr. Sparks made about the unsuitability of the evacuated Walmart building stating it would be more expensive to renovate it in comparison to building a new library building. Who is he kidding? And I don't care that Mayor Eaton wants it uptown. First of all, the Walmart building is the perfect location for the new library facility. Why? Because Albert Lea is an aging community with a large portion of its' senior population living close to that area. What a wonderful thank-you for our seniors to make the library accessible to them. Exercise classes, computer education classes, generational reading and movie programs available to the old and young alike and along, leisure and diversional programs. The list is endless. The goal is to assist the elderly in staying as independent as possible and at their highest functional levels, living as independently as possible. These above mentioned programs would assist in achieving this above goal, while helping the county save big bucks on the money spent on Medicaid, in a long term care skilled Nursing facility. As an RN that has practiced geriatric nursing for 20 years, I am confident in my knowledge on this subject. I, like Mr. Hanna question the numbers and the statement that building new is cheaper but for arguments sake let's say it is correct. My proposal in the long term would save the taxpayers money related to the above arguments.
Posted by minnow on Feb. 27 2004,9:19 pm
I agree on dis one. I think you're on to something there, but don't you see? They aren't thinking of others, they're thinking about themselves. They simply cannot envision themselves without a modern new showcase overlooking the water. A large box somehow loses its sexiness. Remember, it's more about making them feel good about themselves, than doing what's best for the little people.
Posted by jimhanson on Feb. 28 2004,3:21 pm
Good post, Advocate.| Quote |
| What a wonderful thank-you for our seniors to make the library accessible to them. Exercise classes, computer education classes, generational reading and movie programs available to the old and young alike and along, leisure and diversional programs. The list is endless. |
Canada has a program in their Arctic towns called "the accessible Arctic". They build a "box", then include the hospital, nursing home, library, school, restaurants, theatre, government offices, and even small stores all in one place.
What a use for the Walmart--Skyline Mall building. As you mention, it would become an inter-generational center--available to the old and young, a place where families can DO things together.
For seniors, they could go to the library, have lunch with their friends and family, exercise, rent entertainment, buy small convenience items, go to the theatre with family and friends, visit senior resources, medicare specialists, etc.
Of course, we COULD have built this type of all-inclusive center--IF we hadn't blown all the money on the Courthouse!
Posted by MrTarzan on Feb. 29 2004,12:15 am
Well we needed a new courthouse in case all the idle senior citizens get hooked on meth and go on a crime spree. It could happen ya know. Hooligans on the scooters all over town huffing paint and spraying graffitti like "Seniors RULE". Amazingly, in Mason City, a abandoned Wal-Mart which was older than the one here, was just purchased by a College to relocate a regional campus to exactly because of how inexpensive it is to change those "box" buildings and the excellent parking that it will afford the students. They will be officially announcing it this week.