Current CAO/Clerk Gary Long is trying to push through a deal that
will extend beyond this council term, and the next one.
When the Westcast Community Center was being built, the Knights of
Columbus agreed to donate $550,000 towards the project. The
Knights of Columbus have only honored about half of their pledge so
far, and they have been getting free rent in the meantime.
The Knights of Columbus is only paying $12,500/year off of their
pledge, and they pay their share of utilities and snow removal, they
do not pay rent.
– The $12,500 annual pledge payment likely doesn’t cover the
reserve fund to re-pave the $1,000,000 parking lot.
– A building the size of Columbus Hall would be paying about
$36,000/year in property taxes alone. If the former
Middelton’s building ever sells for it’s asking price, it will be
paying about $36,000/year in taxes.
– Knights of Columbus gets free rent. When KOC pays their
$12,500/year, it comes off of the pledge amount they owe. They
are not paying rent, they are paying off what they owe/pledged to
North Huron.
– The size, location and parking lot make this a prime location.
This property is worth at least $10/square foot/year.
Since this is an election year, it is expected that the old boy’s
club” will be trying to sign as many long term contracts with their
cronies as they can. This way their buddies are protected even
if the “old boy’s club” loses the 27Oct2014 election. If
current CAO/Clerk Gary Long gets this deal through