MMF gets $75,000 from City

Vivian,

I know Mr. Landen personally and am sure that he would answer them. I wouldn't presume upon our friendship, however. Not to mention, since Mr. Landen is the city's attorney, he would have a conflict of interest problem with an impartial answer. That's why I would like someone with no affiliation to the city to answer the questions I raised; not that I think that Mr. Landen couldn't do it, but that his answers would be biased because of his employment status.

Vivian,

You raised an interesting point with me concerning the city manager's statement that MMF is not a city board.
According to their website (which hasn't been updated since 2008),"Middletown Moving Forward CIC is a non-profit, public/private organization charged with directing the city's economic development priorities. The organization was founded in 2005 as a partnership of the city and the Chamber of Commerce and includes representation from the community's two largest employers, AK Steel and Atrium Medical Center."

If you are a "public/private  partnership" you are subject to Ohio Sunshine Laws. There is no possible way that this is not a city board because the city is instrumental in the creation of this board. The city has representation on this board. If the city and city officials are involved, it must be a city board. I'd like to see an impartial, legal opinion about this because it seems to me that city officials are deliberately hiding from the public information that the public, by law, should have access. That would be illegal, and furthermore, malfeasance on the part of city officials involved in this organization. Just wondering...

rngrmed wrote: The bigger question is why are only a few people in this town concerned about this?

The bigger question is why are only a few people in this town concerned about this?

Vivian,

How can they NOT be a city board? Who created this entity? What is their mission statement? More importantly, if they are not a city board, why is the city giving them money?!!!

Vivian,

Has there been any report on how successful they've been at grant writing? Any report at all about what they've done for the past 6 years? Is there any report from this group that is a matter of public record? I don't understand how this group could be working for the city for the last 6 years and no one (except the members of this group) have any idea of what they've done. I don't care that members of the city administration are members; the voting public have a right to know what is being done!!!

Usually, for a 501-C3 to get money from a governmental entity, they must supply a matching amount. $10,000 doesn't seem to match $75,000 the city is giving to this group. Too many ?s, no answers.

Vivian,

For movers and shakers, MMF doesn't seem to be very effective at persuading investors. Been around since 2005 and only raised $10,000? Hell, you could put a homeless person on the street corner with a sign and they'd make more than $10,000 in 6 years!!! Besides, what was said yesterday has no validity today!!! Promise? What promise?

Acclaro
City stated last night that the CIC "Middletown Moving Foreward" was established in 2005 while Bill Becker was City Manager. It seems that in 2005 the City instructed that MMF go out and get private investors for the downtown area and last night they returned and stated that they had collected $10,000 in private funds and they were asking for $75,000 from the City just in case they needed money in a hurry for three project that they would be looking at over the next year.

1. Sorg Opera House
2. Brownfield area next to Hook Field
3. Jobs and Family Services building downtown

 

 

acclaro wrote: These threads are many times a moving target, this one no exception. Perhaps someone can explain as I don't listen to blivtv or watch council meetings, what the $75 Kk was for Sorg that was tied to MMF? Next, I agree with Bill. Middletown is tearing down old buildings, trying to make as much greenfield or borwnfield as possible. It cleans up the trash, wasteland, and does open up the area. But, to TonyB's point Bill, if the Sorg has proven it has no redeeming market value for years, and neither has the Manchester, why was the Manchester bought? But, the buildings will either be torn down or refurbished. Economically I cannot see how they could be restored without massive outlays which would justify their investment. I would be interested in anyone knows, the salient link to MMF and Sorg, how, why, a front, a cloak, a gift, as I have no idea.

These threads are many times a moving target, this one no exception. Perhaps someone can explain as I don't listen to blivtv or watch council meetings, what the $75 Kk was for Sorg that was tied to MMF? Next, I agree with Bill. Middletown is tearing down old buildings, trying to make as much greenfield or borwnfield as possible. It cleans up the trash, wasteland, and does open up the area. But, to TonyB's point Bill, if the Sorg has proven it has no redeeming market value for years, and neither has the Manchester, why was the Manchester bought? But, the buildings will either be torn down or refurbished. Economically I cannot see how they could be restored without massive outlays which would justify their investment.

I would be interested in anyone knows, the salient link to MMF and Sorg, how, why, a front, a cloak, a gift, as I have no idea.   

sj,

Your ?s are valid if this money is actually planned for the purchase of the Sorg Opera House. I haven't seen any plans that state this money is for that purpose. I do dispute the statement that nothing positive has happened there in 20 years. Of course, the definition of "nothing positive" would come into question because I have no idea what you would consider "positive". Obviously, any show that has occurred during the past 20 years in the Opera House would fall into the "nothing positive" category. Any of the businesses previously there would fall into your category of "nothing positive" as well.

The most recent previous owners have undone in 5 years what took 25 yrs to accomplish at the Sorg. Now the building sits empty and neglected so your "solution" is just tear it down. While I have no desire to see the city buy more real estate, I can't understand the sentiment for bulldozing more of this town's history. I agree that tax payer money shouldn't be used but if the choice is city ownership of the property or the bulldozer, then buying the building is the only practical solution. If the city would start looking to sell buildings to investors, I'd look even more favorably upon their efforts. I just cannot understand the thought process behind the demolition mindset.

tomahawk35 wrote: Maybe it is the money that it cost MMF to see that these crooks got into office..

I find it odd that the Mulligans raised over $10k each to run their campaigns, but I don't recall seeing many signs for them. I saw 1 for Joe out on 122 in West Middletown and I got a flyer for him even though I am in the 3rd ward.
What was all this money used for?

This was to buy the Sorg. Perhaps it will be another Art "showplace" for Sam to put his works.