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Post by 3woodgal on Apr 20, 2008 6:55:33 GMT -6
Copied from Green Board.
Metea land deal done, so let's move on
Beacon News/Opinions
April 20, 2008
As far as we're concerned, the protracted search for a site for Metea Valley High School has ended. The small but vocal group of opponents who almost succeeded in derailing the Indian Prairie School District's Eola Road deal should now consider it over, too.
The events of the past 10 days have taken district officials and residents on a roller-coaster ride, starting with Midwest Generation backing out of its agreement to sell District 204 its necessary 37-acre parcel because of the controversy and bad publicity. Then on Monday, the School Board announced it would purchase all of St. John's African Methodist Episcopal Church's land at the corner of Eola and Molitor roads in Aurora instead of the original 50 acres.
The deal was dead, now it's not. We hope it stays that way.
Of course, the School District will still have to deal with the fallout from the Brach-Brodie debacle and possible damage awards. The trust that owns the original proposed site at 75th Street and Route 59 has filed a lawsuit in an effort to force the district to buy its land at the price determined by a jury, and the opposition group Neighborhood Schools for Our Children also filed a similar lawsuit, claiming the district sold its referendum to the public based on the assumption that its third high school would be built there.
While some parents have urged the district to slow down on a new site and wait for those legal battles to play out, we understand the urgency. Enrollment continues to grow, and the cost of construction and real estate continues to climb.
For the sake of students and taxpayers, we urge the NSOC parents group to drop its lawsuit. The district has already shelled out enough in legal expenses and paid for construction services and materials at the Eola site, and environmental studies have shown the land is not contaminated. It's time to get on board with the district's vision instead of fighting it for selfish reasons.
The Indian Prairie community has been divided for long enough over this issue. Mistakes may have been made, and there are certainly lessons to be learned from this saga, but now it's time to focus on getting Metea Valley High School open in fall 2009.
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Post by doctorwho on Apr 20, 2008 7:17:40 GMT -6
Copied from Green Board. Metea land deal done, so let's move on Beacon News/Opinions April 20, 2008 As far as we're concerned, the protracted search for a site for Metea Valley High School has ended. The small but vocal group of opponents who almost succeeded in derailing the Indian Prairie School District's Eola Road deal should now consider it over, too. The events of the past 10 days have taken district officials and residents on a roller-coaster ride, starting with Midwest Generation backing out of its agreement to sell District 204 its necessary 37-acre parcel because of the controversy and bad publicity. Then on Monday, the School Board announced it would purchase all of St. John's African Methodist Episcopal Church's land at the corner of Eola and Molitor roads in Aurora instead of the original 50 acres. The deal was dead, now it's not. We hope it stays that way. Of course, the School District will still have to deal with the fallout from the Brach-Brodie debacle and possible damage awards. The trust that owns the original proposed site at 75th Street and Route 59 has filed a lawsuit in an effort to force the district to buy its land at the price determined by a jury, and the opposition group Neighborhood Schools for Our Children also filed a similar lawsuit, claiming the district sold its referendum to the public based on the assumption that its third high school would be built there. While some parents have urged the district to slow down on a new site and wait for those legal battles to play out, we understand the urgency. Enrollment continues to grow, and the cost of construction and real estate continues to climb. For the sake of students and taxpayers, we urge the NSOC parents group to drop its lawsuit. The district has already shelled out enough in legal expenses and paid for construction services and materials at the Eola site, and environmental studies have shown the land is not contaminated. It's time to get on board with the district's vision instead of fighting it for selfish reasons. The Indian Prairie community has been divided for long enough over this issue. Mistakes may have been made, and there are certainly lessons to be learned from this saga, but now it's time to focus on getting Metea Valley High School open in fall 2009. the new orchestrated strategy -- " we have what we want ' NOW let's move on, let's fight mean old Brach-Brodie. WE've already spent your money for materials and furnishigs for Eola -- can't stop now -- this is why the headlong rush.... |
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Post by sleeplessinnpvl on Apr 20, 2008 7:27:20 GMT -6
I'm only going to say that I really agree with this point. You guys know I am all for the division in this district to go away and I will take another opportunity here to repeat my mantra. I realize it will take time and I don't like people saying "get over it" and minimzing your feelings. But you have to admit the north vs south thing and the Aurora vs Naperville thing and the general fingerpointing at subdivisions is not good for our community. BTW, I will also steal this picture from the green board. I do want people to know that this is not a north vs. south thing. There are people from the north that do not like this site and there are people in the south that are OK with this site. I believe if you read the small print on the bottom right corner, it says from "a concerned southside signmaker and district 204 resident."   [/quote] |
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Post by concerned2 on Apr 20, 2008 7:35:27 GMT -6
3woodgal, I have the same thoughts.
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Post by rj on Apr 20, 2008 7:36:49 GMT -6
I went by the AME site Friday and the engineering company was out surveying the property. I couldn't believe they were working without the proper protection required for a toxic wasteland like that. Someone should call OSHA or something, those guys are all going to die horrible deaths from exposure to all those hazardous substances that are in the ground. At the least they should have had asbestos fire suits on to protect them from the imminent threat of pipeline failure.  |
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Post by 3woodgal on Apr 20, 2008 7:37:18 GMT -6
3woodgal, I have the same thoughts. Oops....hit delete by mistake of my post....I stated that I bet the sign was NOT made by a south side resident. The petty games need to stop. I received an email with unkind words and it was signed a South Side Resident.....did some tracking on it and turned out that it indeed was suspect. |
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Post by 3woodgal on Apr 20, 2008 7:37:51 GMT -6
I went by the AME site Friday and the engineering company was out surveying the property. I couldn't believe they were working without the proper protection required for a toxic wasteland like that. Someone should call OSHA or something, those guys are all going to die horrible deaths from exposure to all those hazardous substances that are in the ground. At the least they should have had asbestos fire suits on to protect them from the imminent threat of pipeline failure. Any proof of this? |
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Post by sleeplessinnpvl on Apr 20, 2008 7:41:17 GMT -6
Oops....hit delete by mistake of my post....I stated that I bet the sign was NOT made by a south side resident. The petty games need to stop. I received an email with unkind words and it was signed a South Side Resident.....did some tracking on it and turned out that it indeed was suspect. Wow, I don't know what time you posted your comment, 3woodgal. I wish I knew because I probably would have lost the bet with my husband as to how fast something like your comment would have been posted. OF course, NO southside resident could possibly have this view so it must be someone from the north. Spare me. Talk about petty games. |
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Post by Arch on Apr 20, 2008 7:44:26 GMT -6
I went by the AME site Friday and the engineering company was out surveying the property. I couldn't believe they were working without the proper protection required for a toxic wasteland like that. Someone should call OSHA or something, those guys are all going to die horrible deaths from exposure to all those hazardous substances that are in the ground. At the least they should have had asbestos fire suits on to protect them from the imminent threat of pipeline failure. How proud would you be of this post if something happens along these lines in the future? |
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Post by southsidemom on Apr 20, 2008 7:46:17 GMT -6
Oops....hit delete by mistake of my post....I stated that I bet the sign was NOT made by a south side resident. The petty games need to stop. I received an email with unkind words and it was signed a South Side Resident.....did some tracking on it and turned out that it indeed was suspect. Wow, I don't know what time you posted your comment, 3woodgal. I wish I knew because I probably would have lost the bet with my husband as to how fast something like your comment would have been posted. OF course, NO southside resident could possibly have this view so it must be someone from the north. Spare me. Talk about petty games. I actually HOPE this was from a south side person but given the email supposedly from a south side resident I received my faith is not that great it was since a similar copy was generated signed a North side resident. Now what are the odds the SAME email was originated by a south and north side resident. Seems like people are starting to circulate some unkind words and I have spoken to 3 people that received the same thing. I am going to start deleting if suspect so it can't upset me. |
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Post by sleeplessinnpvl on Apr 20, 2008 7:52:35 GMT -6
Well, if you think that this sign maker is the same person that sent fake emails then you guys are over the top paranoid. I will assure you that the last group of southside people (9 in number) I talked to were 100% for the site. I have even talked to a group of residents from Dist. 203, Plainfield, and Oswego (10 in number) that see no problems with this site and would send their kids there in a minute. ETA: And yes, I explained the perceived environmental issues to them.
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Post by rj on Apr 20, 2008 7:55:16 GMT -6
3woodgal, it has been proven beyond doubt right here on this forum. Didn't you read all the speculation, guessing, assumptions, hidden agendas, and fear mongering that has been posted here? Sheesh, if that isn't proof, I don't know what is. ;D |
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Post by Arch on Apr 20, 2008 7:59:41 GMT -6
It would be nice if the district could get the thickness measurement data for the pipes segments at the land location for the past 10 years.
I believe the single 30" pipe near Carlsbad went from 50mm to 28mm thick in 50 years. Some British metallurgists have documented 12mm thickness loss in 1 year on some pipes.
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Post by rj on Apr 20, 2008 8:01:23 GMT -6
How proud would you be of this post if something happens along these lines in the future? I wouldn't be proud at all, and would have to admit so. That being said, I imagine you also would be proud if it never happened, but never is a long time, so I imagine that you wouldn't concede, as there is always be a possibility even after we are dead and gone. |
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Post by southsidemom on Apr 20, 2008 8:01:36 GMT -6
3woodgal, it has been proven beyond doubt right here on this forum. Didn't you read all the speculation, guessing, assumptions, hidden agendas, and fear mongering that has been posted here? Sheesh, if that isn't proof, I don't know what is. ;D We need to all grow up! |
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