Belvidere Township wants to buy the old Eagle Lodge Building. WHY?

I am having a big problem regarding this matter.  Should local government be purchasing property for an organization (no matter how good it maybe) which has the word “Christian” in is name?  What message does that send to taxpayers with a different religious belief? In these economic times, does this unit of government have so much money that it can spend $150,000 to help a local charity organization?  What about all the other expenses needed to refurbish this former bar and restaurant?  I have not been in the Eagle’s Club in years but it was very dark and smoke-filled last time I was there.  Those odors don’t go away easily even over time.

I almost wish I was a voter in Belvidere (rather than Bonus) Township so I could vote next Friday, August 5, 2011.

Was the public timely notified of the August 5 vote?

Below is the legal publication from the July 27, 2011 Belvidere Republican.  Publication was nine days from the date of the meeting.

Here is the Notice of Special Town Meeting from the Township bulletin board.  Note that there are no dates on the postings.  Many clerks date their postings to clarify when the posting began.

 

 

The building was originally built for the local  telephone company as a telephone switching station and office.  It was replaced by the modern switch next door on the corner; the original   YMCA was built on that corner.

 

If you have some questions or concerns, I suggest you contact your trustees or the township supervisor.  See the photos below for their names and phone numbers:

Is St. James admitting that there is a “problem” with their plan for a new church?

St. James’ agent, Jeff Linkenheld,  has requested a postponement of the August 1 vote by the Belvidere City Council on their zoning request.  They are working out compromises on some of their requested variance from the city zoning.  If the postponement is granted, the detail will not be submitted to the public for another 15 days.

 

Reports from the neighbors ,who lodged a formal protest regarding  the zoning change, indicate that beginning last Tuesday Fr. Geary has made personal visits requesting that they consider selling their property to the parish and drop their protest.  As as parishioner whose contribution might pay for such property I wonder where the money will come from.  I understand that the building project is already over the $5.5 projected cost and that is the upper limit as to the amount the parish can spend.  (See letter from Diocese by clicking on following:  http://boonecountycatholics.blogspot.com/2011/07/will-fr-geary-be-able-to-comply-with.html). Or is that letter from the Diocese no longer in effect? Does Fr. Geary have authority from the bishop to negotiate such property purchases?  Meanwhile parishioners have been told nothing about these details either from the pulpit or in the bulletin.