Wednesday, August 20, 2008

PENNIES FROM IRB HEAVEN-Part I

What Happened to “Negotiate” not “Litigate”?

The word is that IRB is in severe financial straits. However, one would never get that impression by listening to the money being spent commission meeting after commission meeting. In fact, if you didn’t know better, you’d swear that IRB’s coffers were overflowing with cash!

First, there is the money IRB has wrapped up in ridiculous lawsuits. And, there’s a new one soon to be added to the litigation expense roster. A resident who sued the City over a dock permitting issue has recently dropped his damages claim. You’d think that would be good news EXCEPT this now means that IRB will be footing the bill for its own legal fees. Up until now, IRB’s insurance carrier was picking up the tab.

There’s the $20,000+ that IRB has spent chasing the former City Manager Al Grieshaber to recoup an estimated $14,000 that IRB paid him and now wants back! (That case is evidently now set for a jury trial—ca-ching, ca-ching!)

The Whitehurst Avenue dispute, involving IRB’s southern boundary, continues to be a financial drain. Nearly $30,000 has been spent by the City as the instigator of this quiet title action. IRB rebuffed a proposal by this property owner several years ago, which would have given IRB use of land at that location which we’ve NEVER had use of before. In fact, no IRB resident (or anyone else for that matter!) has ever set foot on the land that IRB would have gained access to. Plus, the property owner even agreed to beautify our beach access (the only one in IRB that isn’t!) at his own expense. Instead, IRB has opted to dump money into this sinkhole--with no end in sight--while the Whitehurst Beach Access continues to resemble some third-world country.

If you haven’t added it up yet, that’s $50,000 in lawsuits alone! Be sure to check back on IRBeHEARD for Part II: “How Many Consultants Does It Take?”

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

No comments: