In Monday's city council meeting, which lasted more than four hours, a majority of the council voted to deny Mayor Lloyd Winnecke's request to transfer $187,000 in auction proceeds to the demolition fund.
Councilman John Friend says he voted 'no' because he'd like to see the city explore more options that could bring in an additional revenue stream. "I want to turn this into a money maker instead of a money payer," he says. "There's a lot of push for us to say wait, why don't we try to sell this to the private sector." Friend also says he has concerns about the Parks Department's ability to maintain another large park.
"Last year we had a $2.1 million deficit in that department last year. That's a downward trend in the Parks fund," Friend says.
Councilman Dan McGinn voted in favor of the transfer. "I'm ready to see it go, I'm ready to see it torn down." McGinn says he may not be in favor of green space replacing the old stadium, but the building needs to go.
"Deteriorated. That's what this is. Its just a shell of a building," McGinn says. He says he's open to putting the property on the open market, but he believes no one will be interested until the building itself is gone, "Maybe in the future, once this is a grassy field with a nice lake on it, maybe some one will take an interest. But we need to take the first step."
Mayor Winnecke says he's still opposed to selling the property on the open market. "The city has a responsibility to maintain that property. I think it would be a disservice to sell it on the private market," he says. "The longer that building is standing, the more money we're going to spend."
Councilman John Friend says he voted 'no' because he'd like to see the city explore more options that could bring in an additional revenue stream. "I want to turn this into a money maker instead of a money payer," he says. "There's a lot of push for us to say wait, why don't we try to sell this to the private sector." Friend also says he has concerns about the Parks Department's ability to maintain another large park.
"Last year we had a $2.1 million deficit in that department last year. That's a downward trend in the Parks fund," Friend says.
Councilman Dan McGinn voted in favor of the transfer. "I'm ready to see it go, I'm ready to see it torn down." McGinn says he may not be in favor of green space replacing the old stadium, but the building needs to go.
"Deteriorated. That's what this is. Its just a shell of a building," McGinn says. He says he's open to putting the property on the open market, but he believes no one will be interested until the building itself is gone, "Maybe in the future, once this is a grassy field with a nice lake on it, maybe some one will take an interest. But we need to take the first step."
Mayor Winnecke says he's still opposed to selling the property on the open market. "The city has a responsibility to maintain that property. I think it would be a disservice to sell it on the private market," he says. "The longer that building is standing, the more money we're going to spend."
