I open up the Trib Local and I read how someone who spearheaded the GE Historical Park at Main & Geneva roads is getting Studs Terkel award. Then it hit me, this project can't be completed becuase there is no funding.

While I think having a nice little park at 5 corners is a good idea, having funding to actually do it would be even better. Oh wait, I forgot they borrowed the money from the village to fund this project, with the promise they would pay it back.

If memory serves, the GE Historical Society just recently asked the village to forgive it's debt because, whoops, we can't raise the money to pay you back.

Working in the private sector or real world as some like to call it, I'm trying to envision how that would work with the bank on my mortgage or the IRS with my taxes.

"Hello, Mr. Loan officer? Yeah it's Yoss here. Listen remember that money you gave me to buy the house? Well, I really wanted to pay you back, but well with the economy being what it is, I'm hoping you'll just forgive the debt. What? You want to evict me for defaulting!? Wait a second, I got a humanitarian award, can you take that in lieu of the balance of the mortgage?"

What really steams me about this, is this group and it's mandate to "preserve" GE historic character. Which is fine until you start telling folks what they can or cannot do to property they own. Want to update that 1835 home you bought? Well the GE Historical Society might have something to say about that. Want to fix up the GEBD so we can attract more viable businesses? Not without the GE Historical Society weighing in how we shouldn't change the look of the downtown.

Preserving history is fine, I love to visit the Cantigny, but figure out how to pay for your agenda before pushing it on others.

Oh and congratulations on the award.

Hard to disagree with most of that, Yoss. But I will say that Dan Anderson has done more for the village than his involvement with the GEHS. Hence the award. And he deserved it.

I do, however, find it ridiculous that this village of 27,000 needs anything more than Stacy's Tavern to remind us of and teach the history of Glen Ellyn. But I always took solace in the fact that the money was from private funds. Just a bunch of folks who wanted to complete a project that they felt the village needed. Wasn't costing me anything. In fact, as I find now, they were paying for the properties yet they were owned by the village. I think that's right. If so, interesting situation.

Either way, it's very unfortunate that those running the GEHS did not have the foresight to think that the economy might tank and people might just hold onto their money...especially if they feel they are indirectly donating money to the VOGE. But that's what happened. And like any other financial issues, be it your household checkbook or a private company, they need to work it out, IMO. Either that or the village should get what they can for what could possibly be the two ugliest buildings in the village, knock 'em down...build something that people can use...like a gas station, a McDonald's, maybe a Fuller's Car Wash...whatever the market will bear.

Thanks for pointing out that the award was for activities outside of GEHS.

A Fullers would be a nice addition to that corner.

Unnecessary, repetitive and redundant quote removed. --Ted E.

Yoss, I think you are confusing organizations, GEHS does not do any of what you describe. Are you thinking of "Citizens for Glen Ellyn Preservation"?:
Citizens for...

That said, your post is embarrassing. Dan (and Midge) Anderson has given tirelessly over the years to Glen Ellyn, volunteering in many ways, including the donation of a matching grant of $17,500 to the Glen Ellyn Library Foundation to open a Teen Room last year.

If you have issues with the library and their financial woes, or the History Corner and their plan, harp in another thread. But to diminish a well-deserved award to a man that serves those organizations and more with a post like this is a disgrace.

Congratulations to Dan Anderson, on behalf of those of us in Glen Ellyn that appreciate your hard work and dedication, well done. And thank you to The Honorable Mark Pfefferman for nominating Dan for, in his words "Dan's support of the humanities at the local level and his many contributions of time, talent, energy, enthusiasm, and other resources-not only to the Historical Society but to many other organizations make him ... truly a Humanities Hero in our community."

And Clam, "...it's very unfortunate that those running the GEHS did not have the foresight to think that the economy might tank and people might just hold onto their money." Really? This was conventional wisdom two years ago? You knew?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: shrugged,

Doesn't happen in the private sector

Residential mortgages aside this is pretty close to whats been happening daily in the business sector for over a year now- it's called re-negotiating your debt- either directly with your creditors or through the bankruptcy process. Depending on your situation you either pay your creditors a fraction on the dollar and they forgive the rest or default entirely and let them quibble out of what's left of your assets, if you have any.

Govt works different as it is acceptable in some circumstances to forgive debt in return for a nice community amenity. In which case it's a grant. Banks can't "grant" you money to buy a house. Naperville did similar with their carillon tower when the non-profit ran into financial trouble.

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And Clam, "...it's very unfortunate that those running the GEHS did not have the foresight to think that the economy might tank and people might just hold onto their money." Really? This was conventional wisdom two years ago? You knew?

**** no, I didn't know about it. But I will tell you something about my lifestyle. I don't live like a credit card monster fresh out of college. I don't take money out of my house to pay for vacations. I have an admirably and embarrassingly small mortgage on my house for GE standards and I make car payments on a Volvo that I settled for because I could not stomach the thought of paying for the BMW that I wanted. That is the extent of my consumer debt. Period. In short, I don't buy things that I can not afford. If I want luxury, I will save for it. Consumer debt is for suckers. So, as far as I am concerned...and you certainly can't take my opinion away from me, the concept of buying multi-millions of dollars in property and utilizing the time-honored method of panhandling or begging for the money once done is a method of morons. Especially given the that the property is then given to the village. It is not as if development on 5 Corners was all the rage and these parcels needed to be snapped up before some developer came along. That embarrassing cesspool of an intersection has virtually been untouched in the 15 years I have lived here. God forbid someone at the GEHS could have come up with the idea to raise money before they made some big pimpin' purchases. I pray that the Village of Glen Ellyn has the good sense to tell them to pound sand.

Dan Anderson...good guy. I agree with you on that. Other than that....go pay your Visa bill.

Merry Christmas Everybody!!

Of course, I meant "by" GE standards....not "for." Sorry.

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Yoss, I think you are confusing organizations, GEHS does not do any of what you describe.

Shrugged-I stand corrected on part of what I said.

Historical Society wants village to forgive debt

And it's Dan Anderson being quoted.

Good guy, probably, I'll trust Mark's judgegment on that. Congrats on the award.

But clearly he and the GEHS miscalculated on this one.

Grant the GEHS $1.4 million? If we grant money to anyone, how about Bridge Communities.

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Grant the GEHS $1.4 million? If we grant money to anyone, how about Bridge Communities.

Good point.

FWIW, isn't the GEHS paying money back to the village? In reality...isn't the village on the hook if the GEHS walks away? You can't make this **** up. Millions of dollars for a freakin' history park?

Someone should be firmly slapped on the back of their head.

Yoss and Clam:

I am not disputing the virtues of the park or to learn Consumer Spending 101 (really, you don't buy things you can't afford?). But having facts might help, they did think to "raise money before." Phase I of the History Park Capital Campaign raised $2.6 million by 2006, Phase II launched in August 2006 with a goal of $3.4 to complete the entire project. To date they have raised $2.4 million of that goal. To use your analogy, they bought a "house" with 80% down, hardly a miscalculation. And to still blame "Dan" for it is terribly misdirected Yoss. And what kind of a person beats ups on a local community member who just received a "Humanities Service Award" anyway?

Conceived over a decade ago, in part because of the "embarrassing cesspool of an intersection has virtually been untouched in the 15 years", the GE History Park was intended to beautify and assist in the economic development of Five Corners, and to be financially self-reliant and generate new revenues for both the village and the GEHS. It was meant to beautify the north gateway into the village. You can argue with that, I'm not defending it, just the published facts.

I agree with both of you that requesting the village forgo the debt is a bad move, wrong and ill-timed with the other needs (Library). I don't think we as taxpayers should see our dollars spent this way. But to ignore "WHY" it was done in the first place fails to advance the argument. The request was not made to PAY for the park project, but to relieve debt so that funds could be "freed up" for use on the last 20% of the project's needs.

You look at the Park District who just spend $4 million (of our money)in a year without asking, give the GEHS credit, the village appears to be game. The donations to their Park slowed, each day/month/year construction costs rise, why not go for the fast strike? I don't agreed with them, but I do understand their motivation, and it is smart from a business perspective. At least their funds have all been privately donated, same can't be said for our 14-year old library that needs $3 million in repairs, or our Ackerman wherehouse (as in where did $11.2 million dollars go?).

Hope you both had a nice Christmas, and that your New Year is healthy and safe.

Why not combine the Ackerman Sports complex and GE Historical Park?

Put up big pictures of old time Glen Ellyn on the walls around the walking track. Designate a time to go from picture to picture while listening with a narration on some head phones?

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And what kind of a person beats ups on a local community member who just received a "Humanities Service Award" anyway?

I congratulate him on his award. Again.

BTW-This "person" is a taxpayer.

And I suppose now one should take shots at our Nobel Peace Prize winning President, even though he is sending an additional 30,000 troops into battle?

Which by the way I support, but recognize he has opened himself to criticism. Such is the life of a public figure.

Shrugged...I have a hard to disagreeing with what you wrote up there...other than no one is gettin' on Dan Anderson. At least I wasn't.