Then again, Maybe Not: Conditions regarding financing must be met before money will be made available to the city
By: Curmudgeon
Breaking news: The RAMP board has tentatively approved committing $2.4 million over the next five years to the Godfrey Wonder Dome project, but it attached a set of conditions regarding financing the city must meet first and within six months before the money will be made available to the city. Final action by the Board and the Weber County Commission still pending. The Standard Examiner has the story here:
The story makes it clear as well that several members of the board are less than thrilled with Ogden applying for the money now, think it's premature to say the least, or that if Weber County wants it, it should bond for it, and so on. Board Chairman Dave Holmstron said, for example, that if Godfrey doesn't meet the conditions the board attached to the tentative grant, no money will be provided. "If he comes back a dollar short, he doesn't get it," Chairman Dave Holmstrom said.
Well worth a careful read. The conditions the Board has attached to its tentative approval suggests the members, having been burned by the Godfrey administration before [the ice tower boondoggle grant, which the city had to return to RAMP for violating the conditions under which it was granted], are a lot less trusting of Hizzonah's Rosy Scenario predictions this time round.
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17 comments:
This was a politically astute decision by the RAMP board. It's highly unlikely that all the funding will be in place within six months. Most importantly, I'm glad that the Fieldhouse isn't sucking 100% of the major project money so some other major projects can still be funded.
They gave Godfrey half of what he asked for, and only on conditions that Godfrey cannot meet (showing all funding is in place within six months.)
That's what you call a "political no".
so when does the skulking for BDO bucko's take place?
I think the real test for the Wonder Dome financing will be when the ten million bucks from private parties hits the city bank account. Godfrey has a pretty good track record when it comes to conning public money out of other numb skull officials, but I don't know of any private money that has ever gone into his many stupid projects.
It is very hard for me to envision private parties forking ten million over for such a hair brained scheme.
The RAMP funds are contingent on total financing - including the ten million from private parties - isn't it?
If it is, I think it a good move on the part of these RAMP decision makers. Almost as good as a flat out NO! In fact, it is exactly what I proposed to them in a mass email a few weeks ago when the WCF published all their email addresses. Yep, it is indeed a smart thing when folks do as I suggest!
and where is the other 2+ million that won't be coming from RAMP that was asked for (if they cough it up) going to come from...more private donors?...
tell you what, if we're gonna spend (assuming we were to) why don't we spend half the 40 mil on a REAL community center that would really serve the good citizens of the community...ditch the velodrome, tennis courts and ridiculous site ....create something that adds to the value and quality of living here instead of something that is to attract visitors or is for the select few....put it in a place or various places(along the river, 12th street perhaps) that needs some redevelopment without the costs of demolition and relocating major utilities...that may not be high adventure enough, but when one is spending 40 million you don't have, that is high adventure in and of itself....just a passing thought
I hate to come off as the outlier here; but in my opinion, the RAMP Board should have come out with a crystal-clear "NO."
I dunno Rudi....I like the way they are calling the bluff....they said no to half of the money and now he has to come up with the cash beforehand...and not one dollar short...says to me "prove to us you have what you say you have" At least it will keep him busy for the next 6 months and closer to the election and not off thinkin of another boondoggle.
I think this cans the entire project; no way the Mayor is going to be able to come up with anything near to what was promised.
Soooo....where is the the money for the following coming from since it is a requirement of RAMP....what does "proof" consist of?
"Proof that the RDA has secured the property for the project."
What exactly does "secured" mean...as in bought, option on, given to (ha!)...
Sparky:
I hope you're right.
But it's never prudent to underestimate Hizzonah.
We shall see.
Godfrey needs to take the extra money from his campaign funds from past elections that he was planning on putting his kids through college with and donate to the cause. Then he needs to take Southwick's treasure map and come up with most the rest. Centennial Bank should have his accounts for Envision Utah counted by now and Geigers could start to payback Matt for all his past favors. That should put him over the top and he can run around the new track until hell freezes over or gets elected again.
I do have a better idea. Don't build the dumb thing, no one really wants it or will use it!
Sorry, but after reading the feasibility study and Dan's "feasibility study", I can't believe the RAMP committee has even considered granting fund on this bull shit idea, regardless of ANY conditions. Who puts these morons on the RAMP board? I can't believe how stupid these guys are. NO, NO, NO, NO is the only answer to this idea. Fool Me Once, Shame on You, Fool Me Twice Shame on Me.
Jesus, time to move to a state with some politicians who MIGHT have brains.
Seemed the popular consensus at the last mayoral election that Godfrey wouldn't win, "no way".
Here we are today with another "no way". I'm with Curm. We'll see.
I think ND makes a good point, but I have to agree that the answer should have been "no". I think it's very dangerous to assume this man can't get what he wants.
has anyone else seen the kiosk/cart at Newgate mall advertising the field house? totally lame
Fieldhouse
The flatland-gondola tub-thumpers put a gondola car at Newgate Mall to drum up support for that particular Godfrey obsession. Didn't work.
I'm glad the RAMP Board didn't just roll over and hand over all the money; however, I am disapointed in the members of the Board as I e-mailed them all and did not receive a single response.
A week later, we now know that this Standard-Examiner article was simply wrong. The RAMP board may have floated the idea of awarding $2.4 million for the fieldhouse under the stated conditions, but in fact, as of the date of this article, it had ranked the fieldhouse near the bottom of a list of 7 major project proposals. The Standard-Examiner owes readers an explanation and an apology for getting the story so wrong.
Also, I'd like to take back my comment above, praising the RAMP board's decision. That was before I knew how many other major project proposals RAMP had received. Given that there were plenty of worthy shovel-ready projects, RAMP did the right thing to give nearly all of the available funds to those projects instead of the speculative fieldhouse.
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