comments

Does anybody know if the Corradino Group has been on the City payroll for the past 4-5 years? If so, they are certainly NOT an unbiased source of information, as there is a direct conflict of interest. That would explain why they have been cheerleading the annexation project all along. Mr Corradino said he didnt THINK that pollution is a problem out there. It is not clear what his environmental qualifications for making that determination would be. IF he is now on the City payroll, and has been for YEARS, it would be hard to give his conclusions much credence, especially in an arena where his credentials are questionable to start with, no? Dr. Mel P. Johnson

Corradino questions

When Mr Corradino says that he does not think "environmental liability would be an issue" in annexation he bases his opinion on the misguided belief that the owners would always be liable, whether the owners are still in business or not. Defunct or bankrupt businesses are not going to pay for any cleanups, and WE could be left on the hook for remediation. Why didnt he mention THAT fact? Additionally, what are his environmental qualifications, experience, and training that would enable Mr Corradino to make that determination? Thinking there isnt an environmental problem doesnt make it so, and sounds very close to HOPING there isnt a problem, and isnt good enough in this case. Is he willing to state with certainty that there ARE no environmental pollution concerns to be concerned with? Until the County states, in writing, that THEY will be responsible for any pollution cleanups in the areas under consideration for annexation, we could easily get stuck with a significant cleanup and I couldnt vote for it until that happens. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

annexation meeting

Annexation meeting tonight was just about what was expected- a whitewash, an overemphasis on the benefits of annexation and short shrift of the potential problems. They continue with the ridiculous statements about going after the owners of polluted properties and making THEM pay for the cleanups. Of course if those companies have been defunct, and out of business fro the past 20 years it will be IMPOSSIBLE to squeeze blood out of that turnip. Superfund has been broke for years. The state and county are broke and facing billion-dollar deficits. WHERE is the money for any needed cleanups going to come from? Corradino admitted tonight that the FEC properties are pretty polluted, and the proposed annexation properties are right next door. He said he didnt THINK it would be a problem but, is that enough? If the County is PRETTY SURE most of the contaminants have been cleaned up and pose no future problems, they wont have ANY problem signing an agreement that states THEY will be responsible for any further cleanups, right? WISHING and HOPING we wont get whacked with a multimillion dollar cleanup is gambling, and BAD business. We need considerably more assurances than that before we decide on annexation! Dr. Mel Johnson

property tax projections for next year

The housing collapse led the stock market and the economy into the cellar. And this crucial sector is headed deeper still, along with the value of your home. How low? One measure suggests a further 14.5% drop.(MSN Money) If those numbers are accurate, are they included in the property value projections for the proposed annexation properties? 28.6 % drop this past year, and a further 14.5 % drop is almost a 43 % drop in two years- are those figures included in the Corradino projections? What are THEIR projections, and what are they based on? many questions.. Dr. Mel P. Johnson