NOT A CITY LOAN
I am taking this opportunity to clarify a “perplexed” statement an alderman made in the article “City council ponders a ban on electric surfboards” (Feb. 2). The funding for Surf Springfield was provided through Justine Petersen, the largest micro-business lender in the country.
The city of Springfield, along with local banks, partnered with Justine Petersen to create a $2 million Springfield business loan pool. Â The City Council approved the city’s $300,000 loan participation that is operated by Justine Petersen and just like a bank, all loan applications, underwriting and approvals are done by the staff at Justine Petersen. They have a satellite office within the city’s Office of Planning & Economic Development so staff can refer businesses and individuals who need funding but are unable to get assistance from a bank or the city.
For more information about funding through Justine Petersen, please contact Tristan Brown, Illinois Operations Manager, at 217-494-0884 or visit https://justinepetersen.org/.
Jim Langfelder Mayor, city of Springfield
NOT A PROBLEM
Sounds like a bunch of old men who don’t want a new thing and a bunch of rich people at the lake all saying they don’t want that new thing out there. I would think wake boarding, knee boarding, skiing and tubing are just as dangerous. The owner, Matt Scherer, even said he is willing to work with the city and limit the areas they are allowed to ride. What do the homeowners care?
Matt Fadden
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
NOT DISCUSSED As a member of the city council, I can tell you there was never discussion anywhere about forgiving any debt for the Wyndham, or anyone else, for that matter (“Debt disagreement,” Feb. 2). We cannot vote on things in executive session. Any vote would have had to take place in the council chambers during an open meeting, and that didn’t happen. I certainly would have voted no.
The City Council has been left in the dark regarding debt forgiveness by the mayor and the corporation council. It is time the mayor released a report of the past eight years for all debt over $500 that has been forgiven, and any contracts for payment that have not been honored or forgiven.
It is time this practice stops without approval from the City Council.
Ald. Ralph Hanauer, Ward 10
NOT CONSISTENT
My understanding is that the mayor has a spending authority limit of $50,000 without having to go before the council for approval. What would a situation like this be different?
The underlying problem is that general policies or procedures in place for the utility were not adhered to, for whatever reason. There is written policy as follows: For the first 24 months of service, the deposit maintained on account with CWLP by a nonresidential customer must be no less than the equivalent of two months of the customer’s average utility charges. Accounts will be reviewed within the first six months of service and adjusted as necessary to ensure a sufficient deposit level is maintained. In lieu of a cash deposit, a nonresidential applicant may obtain a two-year surety bond or provide an irrevocable letter of credit from a financial institution.
Who is deciding when to adhere to the written policies of the utility and when not to? In this case, the Wyndham was allowed to become more than $1 million in arrears on the utility bill. What is the limit?
All city departments, including the mayor’s office, need to follow written policy, codes and ordinances.
Terry Young
KEEP THE METERS
I think it would be a real opportunity lost to remove the parking meter infrastructure (“Free parking,” Jan. 26). Imagine being a business owner and having the ability to provide free parking to customers using a parking app. Without that, there is no real control over who parks in front of these places. Meters help regulate limited parking in front of shops. In addition, there are other aspects of the development of a “parking utility” that would aid redevelopment efforts elsewhere in the city. If you want urban renewal, you have to be urban.
Steven Simpson-Black
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
This article appears in The museum built on Native American burial mounds.
