Councilor Staggers grilled Darrin about the groundbreaking deadline and how it is nearing (FF 44:00). He asked if a contract has been signed yet on naming rights. Darrin told him he hopes to have one before the groundbreaking ceremony. Darrin also said to just ‘trust him’ because basically everything is being handled just fine by him.
I am wondering why the council has not been let in on these negotiations? At least before the public knows. We are a month away from groundbreaking and SOME councilors don’t have a clue who is being considered. This is uncalled for, especially for an administration that calls itself ‘open’ and ‘transparent’ and has launched a Facebook page (8 people as of today ‘LIKE’ the events center).
Huether basically backs up Darrin by saying negotiations are taking a long time because they want the best value for the citizens. I would agree about the value, but I think these negotiations could go a lot better if there was more transparency. The mayor seemed uncertain about whether or not a naming contract would be singed before August 30 but they were shooting for it.
Oh, boy.
Lewis – you have to remember that half of the negotiations (the half that has what you want – the $$$) is NOT a public entity and does not operate in the “tranparency” realm- AT ALL. In fact – they have a right to privacy – vs. an obligation for transparency. And you have often make it very clear that government has no business violating a private “person”‘s rights. How about some consistency of ideological application??
Please clarify? I think at least the councilors should be let in on the deal, which would still apply to privacy, but at least we would be represented by other elected officials besides just the mayor.
“on the lam”- with no “b”, is the expression you mean.
I think.
As a side note – has anyone driven by the boundaries for the new EC since they marked it off? I have always said they were cramming this up a gnat’s ass – but after driving by it last week – that might be generous. For cryin’ out loud – that is ridiculous!
Alice – no surpise – it was common knowledge all along that there would be less space, less parking and worse traffic at the Arena location vs. DT.
Wrong place, wrong size, wrong financing: what more can you say? Big lies?
Oh yea, thank you SubPrime Mike for all your efforts to enrich your friends and destroy our dreams…
Lol as always.
Maybe DTSF should get at least one national business to move in there to show how big a mistake it was not to build there.
Nice idea Justin, despite the facetiousness. It’s too bad the Community Development Department is incapable of that kind of foresight. It’s simple really. I had Darrin Smith’s job, I’d develop the parking lot south of the Holiday Inn and lease the space at a significant discount to a retailer like Barnes & Noble, etc. It’s the perfect site: between east 8th, Phillips, and Falls Park…plus near 2 (soon to be 3) hotels. That’s good triangulation!
Will we see this guy run for Mayor again?
I heard the only he is good at ‘running’ into is fence posts.
BTW, IMO they don’t have a naming rights deal yet, or at least we won’t see one by groundbreaking. But if they do have something ‘cooking’ I can almost guarantee it is nothing close to the $600,000+ for 20 years that Superlative recommended to them. I guess we will see when August 30th rolls around, but there has been so many misleading statements by the mayor over the EC, I am not holding my breath.
*IF I had Darrin Smith’s job…
Now that we live in Sanford Fall, its all just a matter of time before our new mayor has the first name of Denny