Section 106 Review: Are we doing our homework?

[strider]

Yes, it's all coming back to me now.  I have contacted a few of my buddies in the right places for a bit more information on another situation that may also be tied to this one.  When I get my ducks in a row, I will have further comment.  Let's just put it this way, "folks are gettin paid" and the right type of investigation can show the who and the how.  Working on that right now.

We don't know if Duchee Steven's garage was demolished with federal funds, but I've put in a request for a list of ALL properties/structures demolished using NSP1, NSP3 and CDBG funds.   We shall see.

And interfering with a city demolition is a Class D Misdemeanor - that's what they were threatening to do.  Same demo contractor (Michael Lloyd Hauling) that took down Duchee's structure also took down 129 E 3nd and 253 E 2nd.  He called the cops on me too at 129 E 2nd and had them onsite at the other.

They were also the contracting company that took down the 100 year old Duckeeville house on Myrtle -- waiting to hear the funding source on that one too.  Interesting story on that one.  Original bid $7200.  Change order for $7400.  which brought the total job cost to a whopping $14,600.

Something to note about this demolition.  The original $ 7,200.00 was low bid for wet demolition.  The change order was for the Ooops, we found out we have to abate the asbestos.   Except that in the file was a report from 2010 that stated the asbestos had to be abated so it was known already.  Just another example of extreme and arrogant mismanagement on the part of Municipal Code Compliance's Chief or actually a good way to launder some extra cash to a favored contractor?  We are still waiting on how this was funded. In any case, no 106 review on it and so if any federal funds were used, it is another $14,600.00 due back to the feds.  Let's see, so far we think the tally could be up to $ 500,000.00 so far and we are still waiting for many public records requests to come through. 

The thing to remember here is that when this is paid back, it must come from the regular city budget not any kind of federally supported program.  So where will that funding come from?  The police and Fireman's budget?  The Library's?  Maybe we could do without the top three or four MCC people and then move the Neighborhoods department into Public Works and do away with Mr Barker's position.  That may pay back us taxpayers in about a year.

[m74reeves]

were procurement procedures followed for some of the nsp demos? say, was a formal bid done for the $70K++ demo of what seems to have been the Jewish CC?

[sheclown]

were procurement procedures followed for some of the nsp demos? say, was a formal bid done for the $70K++ demo of what seems to have been the Jewish CC?

Is this info available on a website or does it have to go through public records?

[JaxUnicorn]

Procurement documens are available online.  I'm digging thru them.  However, I am sure we will find that in what are deemed "emergency" situations, the normal procurement process is bypassed.  The two demolitions done on E 2nd were "emergency demolitions" and from what I've been told/found were not awarded via the Procurement process.

[JaxUnicorn]

Yes, it's all coming back to me now.  I have contacted a few of my buddies in the right places for a bit more information on another situation that may also be tied to this one.  When I get my ducks in a row, I will have further comment.  Let's just put it this way, "folks are gettin paid" and the right type of investigation can show the who and the how.  Working on that right now.

We don't know if Duchee Steven's garage was demolished with federal funds, but I've put in a request for a list of ALL properties/structures demolished using NSP1, NSP3 and CDBG funds.   We shall see.

And interfering with a city demolition is a Class D Misdemeanor - that's what they were threatening to do.  Same demo contractor (Michael Lloyd Hauling) that took down Duchee's structure also took down 129 E 3nd and 253 E 2nd.  He called the cops on me too at 129 E 2nd and had them onsite at the other.

They were also the contracting company that took down the 100 year old Duckeeville house on Myrtle -- waiting to hear the funding source on that one too.  Interesting story on that one.  Original bid $7200.  Change order for $7400.  which brought the total job cost to a whopping $14,600.

Something to note about this demolition.  The original $ 7,200.00 was low bid for wet demolition.  The change order was for the Ooops, we found out we have to abate the asbestos.   Except that in the file was a report from 2010 that stated the asbestos had to be abated so it was known already.  Just another example of extreme and arrogant mismanagement on the part of Municipal Code Compliance's Chief or actually a good way to launder some extra cash to a favored contractor?  We are still waiting on how this was funded. In any case, no 106 review on it and so if any federal funds were used, it is another $14,600.00 due back to the feds.  Let's see, so far we think the tally could be up to $ 500,000.00 so far and we are still waiting for many public records requests to come through. 

The thing to remember here is that when this is paid back, it must come from the regular city budget not any kind of federally supported program.  So where will that funding come from?  The police and Fireman's budget?  The Library's?  Maybe we could do without the top three or four MCC people and then move the Neighborhoods department into Public Works and do away with Mr Barker's position.  That may pay back us taxpayers in about a year.

Strider, we are probably straying from the original thread topic, but the change order regarding the asbestos being found is good to note.  According to Procurement procedures, each demolition bid must include a bid for an asbestos survey, the cost of an asbestos-free demolition, and a bid for a wet demolition (asbestos found).  The award goes to the bidder with the lowest bid for the survey and asbestos-free demolition combined.  Then when the survey is done and asbestos is found, the City has the right to rescind the award and re-award to the lowest "wet demolition" bid.  See below:



Now, what is interesting with the Myrtle Street demolition you reference, Michael Lloyd Hauling's survey/dry demo bid was $7,210, and a wet demo was $8,720.  So, why is it that Michael Lloyd Hauling submitted a change request once asbestos was 'discovered' to add $7,400 when his original bid for a wet demo was $8,720.  That's a wet demo cost of $14,610, $5,890 higher than his wet demolition bid.  Sound fishy?

[JaxUnicorn]

Kim, have you guys sent a written notice and complaint to the entire council?

Diane, emails have been sent to the entire City Council numerous times regarding the inappropriate demolitions occuring within the Springfield Historic District.  None of my emails have ever received a response.

[jaxequality]

I'd just like to give a big thank you to Preservation SOS for all their hard work. I think this is proof that SPAR is turning out to be a useless organization.

[GoldenEst82]

WOW.
Big ups to all of you who are doing the forensics!!

The fact that the city "re-paid thousands already" is indeed an admission misuse.
If the city council is not listening, and the mayor's office isn't listening, both are either severely negligent, or both are complicit.

What is the recourse here?
Do you take all of this to the FBI?
What are the channels to getting this misuse to stop?

On another note, WHY would we not be using these funds to restore?
Restoration employs more people, longer, and results in a house that is to be sold and occupied- raising property values = increasing tax revenue...
I am baffled by the short-sightedness of destruction over preservation, and why anyone would choose such a short term solution to blight, when it creates the long term damage of losing a historic district... something that other larger cities pride themselves on.

I am so glad yall are not letting this lie. Go get em!

[Scrub Palmetto]

Are city officials actively trying to keep parts of Jacksonville blighted? That's what it feels like.

[Tony B]

I have to politely disagree with you. SPAR and Bill Hoff were a big help to us during the due diligence and purchase of our E 10th st location. They put us into contact with the right people in JSO to assist with concerns about what seemed like illegitimate activity near by. They helped with securing insurance on a historic structure.  They helped explain and guide us though the COA process. Their assistance helped turn an abandoned / foreclosed building into the home for a viable business with a dozen employees.

I'd just like to give a big thank you to Preservation SOS for all their hard work. I think this is proof that SPAR is turning out to be a useless organization.

[sheclown]

This isn't about psos and spar. This is about Springfield and the city. We need to stand united

[jaxequality]

Tony,

I'm guessing you are in the old Vanderleigh space now, SPAR likes you because you fit the mold of what they are looking for. Any good neighbor could help with all those things. Bill is a great person, I agree. SPAR, however should be the leader in standing up for preservation as their name suggests. I am glad to hear that SPAR and PSOS are working more closely together though. I will be curious how you feel about SPAR should you get involved, it's a perfect group of 40 something white people who have their own agenda, maybe you fit that mold also. It just seems like SPAR should have been all over this issue from the get go and like the city they should be accountable. 

I have to politely disagree with you. SPAR and Bill Hoff were a big help to us during the due diligence and purchase of our E 10th st location. They put us into contact with the right people in JSO to assist with concerns about what seemed like illegitimate activity near by. They helped with securing insurance on a historic structure.  They helped explain and guide us though the COA process. Their assistance helped turn an abandoned / foreclosed building into the home for a viable business with a dozen employees.

I'd just like to give a big thank you to Preservation SOS for all their hard work. I think this is proof that SPAR is turning out to be a useless organization.

[Debbie Thompson]

xxx

[sheclown]

Again. This is a discussion about the city's abuse of federal funds. Lets stay united

[sheclown]

Save the houses