Readers on this blog have been debating about the Kelo Supreme Court case for a couple of months, but the decision is stunning ----just in what it means for the new math----from now on, if a school district or city decide that they want something because it is newer, no problem. Thus---
If our school district,( which residents when polled 4 years ago, 70% stated they strongly supported a central campus not a bussing situation,) decided that it would be better to achieve the goals of Evansville to simply seize the homes necessary surrounding the current schools for school expansion, presto, it would have the blessing of the supreme court as long as "just compensation" was given. Suppose you are a homeowner on Hwy 92. Or on 5th street. Or on Francis. No discussion please. The issue is not "blight." I do remember some emotional discussion about the trailer homes surrounding the current elementary school. No discussion now. It has been decided.
So---what do you think about the new math. Mr. Pierick went over the numbers at the June 15, 2005 planning meeting. There is going to be a push for new space. The Supreme Court has said today that the homes adjacent to the schools are fair game. As long as a governmental entity has a plan, that is good enough. It's not about East Main anymore. What do you think?
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Correct me if I am wrong but didn't he say that 59% of the houses in Evansville were in the 75-100K category. I would like to know where the houses in this area are for that amount of money?
ReplyDeleteIt seems as though the median is around 150-175K.
Either ask Evilleblogger or city hall.
ReplyDeleteI didn't hear what he said, but that may be correct as far as what the average assessment is. Many houses that are older have assessments that haven't kept pace with market value. The city assessor is currently working on updating assessed values for all homes in Evansville. Currently I think the assessment is supposed to be 80% of market value. If you look at some older houses that are listed on the MLS (www.wisconsinhomes.com) they often have an assessment that is far lower than 80% of their asking price. Granted anyone can ask whatever they want, but I think the realtors are fairly good at assessing market value. You can look at the assessed values of property in Evansville on the assessors site. You can link there from the City of Evansville site.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark, I second the motion, you should run for office!
ReplyDeleteI found this excerpt on the Fortune 500 site and thought it was interesting,
ReplyDeleteThese are statements from the opposition of the courst ruling.
Meanwhile, eminent domain opponents called the high court ruling a "big blow for small businesses."
"It's crazy to think about replacing existing successful small businesses with other businesses," said Adrian Moore, vice president of Los Angeles-based Reason Public Policy Institute, a non-profit organization opposed to eminent domain.
"There are many, many instances where we've found that the cities that agreed to eminent domain use not only destroyed local businesses but the tax revenue that the local government had hoped to generate did not come to pass," Moore said.
Doesn't Roger Berg live over by the school on Ron Road? Maybe he will have his house taken away when the school needs more space.
ReplyDeleteTalk about Karma!
I'm responding to the first comment. I'm guessing the person posting this comment heard someone repeat census figures about home values in Evansville. The census figures are for the price of the home without land. The sale prices we see in the newspaper are for the home and the land on which it is situated.
ReplyDeleteBill Connors
Evansville City Administrator
When the decision to use existing land for the new high school was made, concern was raised at that time about the need for land to meet future growth of the school district. While a campus approach seems logical, a more feasible option may be to buy open land in Union Township, possibly on the west side, where considerable growth is already occurring, for a new elementary school. Obviously, an argument could be made for the east side, and north as well.
ReplyDeleteWhatever building decision is made later (a new middle school is also a likely consideration), the school district needs to acquire land soon. I do not favor the use of eminent domain to obtain land for the district at this time, as land is available elsewhere, and no one would need to be displaced.