Last night, Indiana’s NewsCenter reported that the City of Fort Wayne was refusing to release soil test results obtained for the 29 acre parcel of land currently owned by OmniSource. According to reports:
“Indiana’s NewsCenter requested records of soil testing that’s been conducted, but the City Legal Department turned down that request.
The City cited state code suggesting that economic development commissions are exempt from disclosure requirements, during negotiations with a commercial
prospect…”
and here’s the kicker…
“OmniSource apparently allowed the City to conduct testing, only if the results were not made public.”
Delays in releasing the report only add to questions and speculation that (1) results received to date are not favorable, (2) OmniSource had a good idea that the results would be unfavorable, and (3) the Richard Administration intended to sneak this past Fort Wayne voters by running out the clock.
As an active participant in the NorthRiverNow! planning process, I assumed in good faith that the Richard Administration was providing due diligence behind the scenes to ensure any decision to purchase the project site would protect the public interest. I now question such assumptions.
I was an outspoken supporter of Mr. Richard when he commissioned the task force. Attending the community workshops and design charrette was an enjoyable and enlightening experience. However, the countless hours spent by impassioned citizens and tens of thousands of dollars spent on outside consultants appears to have been in vain if environmental issues threaten to kill ideas generated, and were expected in advance.
It is entirely fair to ask the question, “if Matt Kelty did not bring attention to the potential exposure for Fort Wayne taxpayers, would we even know about the issue?”
In the interest of full disclosure, let me acknowledge for those who don’t know that I am a Kelty supporter and work for the Kelty for Mayor campaign. It is precisely for this reason that I support Matt and his platform of “Smaller, More Accountable Government.” In a recent press conference regarding environmental concerns related to the land parcel, Matt Kelty announced
“The agreement provided to me by the City does have a provision concerning environmental matters. The agreement states: “The seller will convey the property to Buyer AS IS, without any warranty as to condition or environmental matters.” So, the City was correct in saying there is a provision. What they didn’t say is that according to the provision, the Seller is apparently unwilling to stand by any of its representations about the environmental matters or take any risk in connection with the future cleanup of the land. If we exercise this option, all of that risk moves squarely and solely to the shoulders of Fort Wayne taxpayers.”
It now seems apparent that the current administration intended to run out the clock, hoping that Tom Henry would prevail on November 6, and the December 31st option purchase deadline would compel the City to exercise it.
We deserve better. It is time for a change.
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