Judith Lindenau
Cindy Butts
My friend Cindy Butts is the AE (Association Executive) in Maine. Her blog is called AE on the Verge and is intended for fellow AE’s. I wouldn’t miss it and frequently forward it to my staff.
Judith Lindenau is the retired AE in Traverse City, Michigan and she frequently consults around the world on association management issues.
Both are terrific friends of mine and very interesting bloggers. They constantly serve as role models, innovative thinkers, and are supportive, interesting people. They both have been encouraging me to get blogging but it has taken me a while to figure out what I wanted to say and who would be my intended audience. So, here goes….
My intent is to speak to my members (and anyone else who is interested) on issues that we deal with at the Columbia Board of REALTORS – both on a staff level and on a volunteer leadership level. Maybe we can answer the age-old question of “What were they thinking?” I’m going to try for a few weeks and see how it goes.
Eminent Domain Issue in Columbia
There are several issues on the horizon in Columbia, Missouri which promise to demand a significant amount of our attention. The first one concerns the issue of the use of Eminent Domain to secure land for a new State Historical Society Museum. Click here to see the great article from the Tribune. It is my hope that the city and the property owners can work out an equitable solution prior to this next coming before city council. Here is the block in question:
This is the block being considered for the Historical Society Museum.
Lee Terry and I drove around the block and took a video of it (See below). It’s really hard to remember exactly what properties are where – particularly like in Florida when overnight, a building would be gone and then we couldn’t remember what was ever there in the first place!
I haven’t been to Bengals Bar and Grill but it looks very inviting from the street. The private residence is attractive and looks like it is in good repair. We do however, go to U.S. Cleaners as my Dutch husband has found that this cleaners is the least expensive in town. I would miss them if they went out of business – as would my pocketbook.
I understand that Eminent Domain is a tool that cities must have in order to cater to the greater good. However, as REALTORS, we are pledged to protect private property rights. Leading off with the threat of Eminent Domain when the property owners haven’t even been notified is a huge mistake on someone’s part. Hopefully, by the time this issue next comes before the public, the city and the property owners can come to an equitable solution. I don’t think that we, as an organization, intend to just give lip service to our beliefs.
