Developer asks city to reimburse $85,000 -- DyersburgUSA

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 01:08:14 03/01/08 Sat
Author: SG
Subject: Developer asks city to reimburse $85,000

Developer asks city to reimburse cost of lift station
Friday, February 29, 2008

Developer Judy Burks spoke to members of the City of Dyersburg's Finance Committee on Tuesday concerning the repayment of an $85,000 lift station added during the construction of Section C of The Farms subdivision.

"When we put in the golf course and The Farms, we asked [the city board] that we bring the development into the city as we developed it," said Burks, who said that the city's decision not to "spot zone" the 365 acres of The Farms subdivision as it was developed resulted in 12 years of city taxes on undeveloped land, the golf course, lakes and pastureland. "(We paid the city taxes) with understanding that when we developed, we would come under the city services for water and sewer. But when we added our 60-lot Section C and the time came that we needed the services, they were no longer there. We were required to buy an $85,000 pump station to service our subdivision. I don't think that's right."

Burks made two requests of the finance committee: 1. That the $85,000 be paid back to The Farms investors with no penalties or interest, and over a period of time, if necessary, and 2. That the remainder of the property be removed from the city.

"There is 70 acres (not developed)," said Burks. "My brother and I are not developing any more property in Dyersburg. It's been too much trouble. Because of pure chaos, it cost us $400,000 more than it should have. And, yes, we've got a bad taste in our mouths."

Burks said that 18 acres of the land included in the city is pastureland farmed for hay by Paul Finley.

"We are constantly getting letters from the city to mow it or they will mow it," said Burks. "He takes care of that and harvests it when it is ready."

Burks also said that although the city would not "spot zone" her subdivision, there remains a parcel of property completely surrounded by The Farms that has never been brought into the city tax roll.

"We are paying city taxes without city services," said Burks. "Plus, we've developed 200 quality lots. If you count each one of those houses as a $100,000 home, look at the tax base we've brought into the city at our expense. And (the homes) are worth much more than that.

"I am here without a lawyer," continued Burks. "(The $85,000) can be paid over a period of time, I don't care, as long as it's made right. If we would have known that it would cost us an extra $400,000, I don't think we would have developed it. We didn't have to develop it and we will not develop any more."

Members of the committee told Burks it is a very unusual thing to recommend the de-annexation of city property and asked if they could discuss the matter with the appropriate committees, research old deeds and deliver a formal response at a later date.

Committees that will be involved in the discussion include Water and Sewer and the Planning Commission. To de-annex the property, a recommendation would have to be made by the Planning Commission.

Also at the meeting, committee members discussed:

* changes in state procedures that will push stop lights at Frank Maynard and Parr Avenue and Mall Boulevard back to late spring.

City Recorder Gleyn Twilla said that state procedures have changed the order in which state officials will approve the steps to complete projects like stop lights. The new order creates longer delays for projects to be finished.

"It seems like every time you get a light, it takes so long," said alderman Freeman Dudley. "Someone has to lose their life, and then you get it quick. I hate to see that happen. It's getting bad on Frank Maynard."

* an update on the sale of McDowell Center

"I've had some more discussions with the folks on the McDowell Center," said Holden. "I am waiting for a formal offer. I think they want to change the type of treatment, maybe employ 40 or 50 more people."

* a Workman's Compensation update for City of Dyersburg departments

"We had a good report from Bradshaw," said City Treasurer Steve Anderson. "Last quarter, we had zero loss time injuries for the quarter."

Anderson said that the city had nine injuries in the 2005-2006 fiscal year and 12 in the 2006-2007 fiscal year.

"This year, for the first six months, we've only had three," said Anderson. "And that's with zero in the second quarter. It's saving us money out of our pocket."

* tax collection rates and development around the Highway 51 Bypass

"I think things are hopefully headed in the right direction," said Holden, after he pointed out articles in the recent Progress issue of the State Gazette featuring new construction on the Highway 51 Bypass and an increase in December sales tax collections up 8.96 percent. "It's good news for the community."

* an initiative to separate and earmark early warning fees for maintenance and replacement costs for sirens and emergency response

Chairman Lewis Norman made a motion that the early warning fees charged to Dyersburg residents on their utility bills be set aside and earmarked for repairs and replacement sirens. The procedure will begin with the next fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2008. Kevin Chaney seconded the motion, and it was approved. A recommendation will be made to the full board to segregate those funds in the next budget.

* a legislative breakfast scheduled at the Lannom Center/Dyersburg-Dyer County Chamber on Friday, March 14.
© Copyright 2008, Dyersburg State Gazette
Story URL: http://www.stategazette.com/story/1314907.html

Comments
The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, use the exclamation point icon beside the comment to send a report to the webmaster.

BLABITY ' BLABITY 'blabb!! Poor people don't live in mansons like.>THE FARMS< because the factorys move after tax payers pay for all they need.CRY babbies like BURKS IN his million dollar spread wanting the farms to turn in to another lake woodat every ones expense. TO be resold for a profit or bankrupped at the tax payers againg. Gleyn twilla won't let a heated swimpool in says it will smell.43thou he can go to misourri. The city county of DYERSBURG is going to the rich to get more rich!!!! Good people can not even move a way from horrible negibors in which rich buys up ' don't fix up nothing but high rent' us good ole hard working ones are robbed as we work' sleep and put up withit cause Big Shots gotta have it all!!?our lives are met through JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!! How are your needs met BIG SHOTS?
-- Posted by passon12 on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 2:14 PM

The development of this land has been going on for close to 30 years and it sounds as if the city has taken both the developer and the homeowners to the bank. Yet, when needed services were called upon there were none?? Give the developers a break. They have brought a larger tax base to the city coffers and now the city is turning their backs on them. BBruce
-- Posted by auctionbillie on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 1:14 PM

How can the city send out letters to mow or they will,because they have hay ground they let roger page have.The bad think is they let him have that green gold for free.it could be good money for the city.so they have no wright to send you a letter because greg williams told the mayor and the alderman in a nov.meeting how good of a job roger done. so if that hay ground looks good why should you get a letter.
-- Posted by BIG D. on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 12:56 PM

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Contractor wants city as partner -- sil, 16:40:56 03/27/08 Thu
- Re: Contractor wants city as partner -- titans, 16:43:53 03/27/08 Thu
  - Re: Contractor wants city as partner -- jimmy, 16:45:21 03/27/08 Thu
    - Re: Contractor wants city as partner -- Muskee, 16:46:34 03/27/08 Thu