The NG had three stories yesterday that touched on the Urban League of Champaign County and their quest for a new building.
First, "Urban League wants to downsize headquarters."
Second, "Deal made to sell current Urban League building."
The Urban League, which ran into financial problems last year after it lost two major state grants worth 60 percent of its budget, has been cutting staff and closing programs ever since.
I guess that's one way of putting it.
Third, "Some officials have reservations about Urban League plan," as the Urban League is asking the City to donate a new building to them.
Council member Ken Pirok also said he "definitely will not be supporting" the Urban League's proposal.
"There's no reason to give something away that truly has some value to the city," Pirok said.
The lodge building was appraised at $340,000 in 2004. Pirok said he would support the city keeping the building and possibly reserving it for future city use if none of the six proposals are attractive enough.
City Manager Steve Carter also said the fact that the Urban League's proposal provides no compensation "is a problem."
Discuss.
Please, call me Mr. Negative,,,,,,,but there is still the matter of the missing $350,000 that no one has accounted for yet. Where did this money go? It certainly did not go to the programs it was designed for,,,so who benefitted from these monies?
Just remember this example the next time the city wants to get into the development business. They are into this building for over $600,000, its appraised at $340,000, and I will be surprised if they actually get that much at sale.
Big numbers for a city budget - no - but real money none the less.
This whole fiasco was done because the City bent the rules so that the minority community lodge could have a nice place, even tho they didnt have the finances from the get go to make it work, the City decided to be politically correct and make it happen, and now the City is left holding the proverbile bag for this.......
I wouldn't support giving the Urbana League anything else until we have a better explanation of what happened. Why are they no longer handling the energy program? Was it a question of bad paperwork or missing money? How can they take on another program when they couldn't handle the others, and now they have fewer people? Why didn't anyone on the Board question why the Urban League was leasing property from a company owned by the director, if that is what happened If there is no change in the Board, how can we depend on them to oversee a new and improved Urban League?
I wouldn't support giving the Urbana League anything else until we have a better explanation of what happened. Why are they no longer handling the energy program? Was it a question of bad paperwork or missing money?
Great point. That said, I am not sure I would favor giving them the building even if they had a great explanation for prior problems.
I don't disagree, but at this point, I don't have enough background information to even consider this. Before the City agrees to do business with anyone, I would hope we would have answers to whether that entity can be trusted to do the job. HOwever, if there are no great answers to any of these questions, then I think the lack of such explanations automatically disqualifies them from asking the City for more.
They should be allowed to rent the building at a reasonable cost. If they can't make that happen, then the rent can be lowered, but the group must give up more control each time the rent is lowered below a certain mark.
Also, I agree there should be much more explanation of the problems. No explanation, no building.
On April 7th, 2008 at 10:16 AM, Bruce Byrd (not verified) said:
Please, call me Mr. Negative,,,,,,,but there is still the matter of the missing $350,000 that no one has accounted for yet. Where did this money go? It certainly did not go to the programs it was designed for,,,so who benefitted from these monies?
I wonder after reading the NG article, Why did Julie Wurth not ask the same question??????
How about at least a little accountability...I can see why Tracey Parsons jumped ship....a total and complete waste of funds.
Tracy may have jumped ship,,,,,but if it turns out something funny went on with that money, he is still accoutable, it went on under his watch. One thing I found incredible,,,,they had a banquet for the guy shortly after he left,,,,all these luminaries got up and sang his praises,,,including out great Champaign City Mgr. Steven Carter, Parsons left the place a shambles. They should not have come to praise Caeser,but to bury him, in my opinion...but as always there are people that are untouchable no matter what the situation.