My name is Jeff Wiggs. I live at 2540 Florent. I am one of the five people who signed the Affidavit to Commence Referendum Proceedings decision in order to put the Council and Mayor White’s Preliminary Development Plan onto the ballot. Obviously, I am opposed to the Maplewood Quick Trip’s relocation to the corner of Big Bend and Manchester for many reasons. One of those, in particular, relates to Section II D No. 2 (9) regarding Quick Trip’s purchase of 2547 Big Bend and dedication to the city of Maplewood for access from Martini to Big Bend. I request anyone reading this blog to drive down Martini from Rannels or up Martini from Manchester and look at my house. It is the backset house that has approximately three to four feet of sidewalk before Martini Road. Any access from Big Bend to Martini creates the chance of someone running into my house. The Amended Bill Number 5878 Ordinance Number 5689 approved by the City Council on November 27, 2012, provided no prior personal contact from either the Mayor or my Ward 1 Council members, Ms. Wood and Mr. Cerven. I would think if someone was going to have a road pointed at their house at the very minimum a city representative would talk to them about their concerns and safety issues. Instead, this was stuck into the amended bill, agreed to and approved as if the safety and well being of my house and my person is something just to throw into the mix in order to satisfy Quick Trip and their relocation plans.
If this can happen to me today, something similar could happen to you tomorrow. I really wish everyone of you who reads this blog would respond and also think about changing their Council person at City Hall.
Thank you for your time.
Jane
8:12 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
I am rather concerned that no one from the council discussed the amended proposal with Mr. Wiggs. Shouldn't the council represent the interests of their constituents? The more I learn about the way this process works, the more I think the council and the mayor represent the interests of commerce rather than the citizens of Maplewood. This realization saddens me and makes me question our leadership at a fundamental level.
I also must say that Mr. White's public antagonism of the school board has been very disturbing and inappropriate. I do not think he is fit for leadership and am dismayed that he is running unopposed in the next election. I particularly disliked his recent use of the Maple Leaf newsletter to rant about the school board. I know there are always two sides to every conflict (i.e. no one is without fault), but Mr. White has proven time and again that he is unable to rise above petty politics.
Ian Storm
9:03 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
It's very unfortunate that every step of this process has been marred by poor communication from our city officials. No one thought to include not just Mr. Wiggs but all the residents and businesses that back up to Martini?
And I wholeheartedly concur with Jane's assessment of Mayor White's sad public spat with the school board. Taking his snipes to the Maple Leaf was a slight abuse of power, and he should apologize for it. Perhaps many of us can not vote for him, so that even though he is unnopposed, he realizes his constituents are not happy.
William Rapp
9:54 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
You need to rally your troops to fight these inequities as there is veiled movement at hand. I reside outside of your city however I have had conversations with business owners that have candidly stated that the Q-T deal will go through because it is all set up and funded with much cash. You may speculate what that means and how it is spread.
Ram Fan
12:06 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
I re-read the mayor's comments from the current Mapleleaf and do not find any negative comments about the school district. There is no spat between the school board and the council. All Mayor White did was state facts. Sometimes those are hard to swallow when you are prejudiced on a topic.
Jane
8:29 am on Sunday, January 20, 2013
Ram Fan - How in the world can you read all the things White has posted and not conclude that there is at least tension between him and the school board? This reading is not founding on some prejudice you think I might have; it's sheer deduction based on what he's said. I find it amusing that you would divide this along the lines of prejudice (me) and facts (you and Mayor White). Can we agree that life is composed of interpretation and shades of gray?
If what you say is indeed true, White himself is not doing a good job presenting reality. On multiple occasions he had somewhat boldly stated that the board has their sites set on a private piece of property. Let's quote Mayor White: "The Big Bend and Manchester location is privately-owned, zoned commercial, and a very valuable commercial location. This area should not be used by the local School District, a taxing agency, to increase their tax-free property at the expense of the welfare of the Citizens of Maplewood."
Since the school district has never publicly stated that they want to have this property, I find Mayor White's statement inflammatory. It is a misuse of power for him to use The Maple Leaf to sway the debate in his favor. Honestly, Ram Fan, I was on the fence on the issue UNTIL our mayor started spouting out in the media and the Chamber of Commerce started mailing me dubious flyers. Their own actions led me to lose some respect for them and to question their position on Quiktrip.
Patty Nouraie
6:45 pm on Sunday, January 27, 2013
I think the discussion here really is about the Quick Trip coming to Big Bend & Manchester, not the individual frailties of some of our representatives in Maplewood. I think the question is whether or not Quick Trip will be safe for students. Right now I think a vacant building is definitely not safe for students. I haven't seen Quick Trips as a danger to students in the past. I don't see this one as a danger, either. I have seen Maplewood being "reclaimed" and "rebuilt" over the last fifteen years. I think good economic decisions, with consideration for the welfare of citizens, have been made. With other buildings in Maplewood, care has been taken for immediate neighbors and for safety in and around the buildings and roads. I think care would be taken here as well.