The Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance has formally endorsed the Harrison Square downtown development project.
Click the link below to read the press release.
Alliance Board Supports Mixed Use Development Downtown (PDF)
Monday, February 12, 2007
Alliance Backs Square
Posted by scott spaulding at 2/12/2007 02:37:00 PM
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17 comments:
Of course they endorsed it partner!
Please tell me one thing:
Please name ONE public project endorsed by the Mayor that the group has NOT endored.
Please just name one...
Mike Sylvester
Mike,
This particular Board includes the current CEO of one of the areas largest and most successful businesses, Do It Best. This Board includes the former CEO of one of Allen County's largest employers, Parkview. This Board includes the President of one our largest locally owned Banks. This Board includes several small business owners which you so frequently say are ignored.
So what are you saying about these individuals Mike? Are you saying that these individuals do not have a mind of their own? Or, are you saying that this group of business leaders just are not bright enough to see things exactly the way you see them?
S. Talarico
Sam,
You seem to be privy to the membership of the Alliance. Can you provide a link so the rest of us can know who the people are that are "endorsing" this project?
The Alliance website and the City and County websites do not, so far as I can determine, provide any information about the board membership.
Similarly, the Grand Wayne Convention Center Board, which I understand might get control of some of the food and beverage tax pursuant to the Richards/Peters proposal, is Mayor appointed, and described on the City website, but the City doesn't tell who is on the board. It doesn't seem that the identity of those individuals is publicly available (at least via internet). I'm sure I could get off my butt, walk down to the City/County building and poke around until I found out, but why is this necessary in "wired and inspired" Fort Wayne?
Weren't most or all of the Alliance members you mentioned also on the "Baseball Plus Committee" that recommended the new stadium?
I'd still welcome an "internet debate" with you about Harrison Square. I promise I'll be civil. Many of my objections relate to the project specifics that we are not or have not been provided. Maybe you could fill in some of that information, in a public manner.
Mark Garvin
Mark,
I will get you a list. To my knowledge, your connection between the Baseball Plus Committee and Alliance is not accurate. I am sure there are a couple people, including myself, who serve (and served) on both committees, but I think any overlap is very minimal.
Sam T.
Mark,
The following are the non-politician board members of the alliance
Mr. Andy Brooks
Brooks Construction
Mr. James E. Cook
President
Chase Bank
Mr. Scott Glaze
Chairman and CEO
Fort Wayne Metals Research
Mr. Dave Haist
Executive Vice President and COO
Do it Best Corp.
Mr. Bob Hoffman
Director of Operations
BAE Systems Electronics
and Integrated Solutions
Ms. Jill Korte
Economic Development Manager
Indiana Michigan Power
Mr. Phil Laux
President & CEO
Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Tom Marcuccilli
President
STAR Financial Group, Inc.
Mr. Charlie Mason
President Emeritus
Parkview Health System
Mr. Mick McCollum
President
Automation Engineering, Inc.
Mr. Michael Ottenweller
President
Ottenweller Company
Mr. Steve Rahn
Vice President & Assoc. General Counsel
Lincoln Financial Group
Mr. Bob Sallaz
Director - Hub Operations
Kitty Hawk Cargo
Mr. Donald Schenkel
President & CEO
Tower Bank
Mr. Maclyn Parker
Baker & Daniels
In addition to the above, the Mayor is a standing member, the City Council appoints a member, the Commissioners appoint a member, IPFW and FWCS appoint a member.
Sam T.
From the list that Sam just posted, only Phil Laux is a member of both the Alliance and BaseballPLUS committee.
Sam,
Thank you for the list.
Scott,
I think you are correct, at least as to the non=government/politician members. Sam's earlier post referred to the CEO of Do It Best Corp., Bob Taylor, who was on the BaseballPlus Committe. The current Alliance member from Do=It Best Corp. is apparently Dave Haist.
Your central point, though, is correct, there is substantial independence between the two groups.
Mark Garvin
Sam:
Please read my post again, it looks like you COMPLETELY missed the point.
Mike Sylvester
Mike, your post must be much more complex than I can comprehend. To me, the average reader, it certainly looks like you are insinuating that the Board endorsed the project because they are a bunch of lackeys who automatically endorse any thing the Mayor throws out there. If there can be any other way of reading your post, then I must simply be incabable of sorting through the complexities.
Sam T.
Sam:
Boards in this town ALWAYS support projects put forth for the supposed Public good...
Please name one that has opposed a project in the past. Just name one Sam...
The post is not that complicated and I am sure you can udnerstand it...
Mike Sylvester
Mike,
You continue to confirm my earlier post.
1. The Board Members are lackeys; or
2. They are not bright enough to agree with you.
Come on Mike, pick one.
Sam T.
Sam:
I'd go with lackeys. The mayor appoints a majority of the Alliance Board. If I were mayor, I'd appoint lackeys. Bright, personable and responsible lackeys, but lackeys all the same. Did Richard go out of his way to appoint his critics to the Alliance?
Sam:
You still have not named one public board and ONE project...
I rest my case...
I know you are a lawyer...
There is no doubt in my mind that if we drew a randowm jury of Fort Wayne residents and you presented the reasons we SHOULD build the Harrison Square project and I gave the reasons against it; the jury would side with me...
Mike Sylvester
Each of those people listed on that board are campaign donors to the people who have been pushing this project. Every one of them. I agree with Mike.
They are either lackeys and/or they have something to gain personally from this project.
The only group not represented on this board is somebody from the general public.
anonymous:
I would be interested in a list of these political contributions. Do you have a source?
I also don't understand how each one of these people would personally benefit from the Harrison Square project. Can you explain?
For example, the President Emeritus of Parkview, Director of Hub operations at Kitty Hawk, I don't see the connection.
With your conclusions would you say that the Alliance is a waste of time?
If by "lackeys" you mean intelligent and successfull business people, then I guess you guys are right. Most of those people are powerful and intelligent people and I promise they didn't get there unless they thought on their own at one time or another. This sounds like a dirty political scheme where one side is trying to discredit the other because it doesn't like their opinion. Everyone gets an opinion guys.
Everyone gets an opinion but only those in the Alliance count.
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