Questioning city’s handling of real estate

To the editor,

With the recent sale of the old dime store building by the Dubuque Creative Adventure Lab that had owned it for three years, was anyone surprised that the city had given this property to them? 

Maybe the city is satisfied that they are going to get some taxes from it now! 

That was the reason they wouldn’t split the lot that Zimmerman built on (on Chestnut Street) -- they wanted more tax money from a house than adding property to one house and a garage for the other neighbor. 

At present, the house still needs siding and looks unfinished years after it was to be done. 

The business of property for a trail was something the Airport board “clued” the council in on since it was property they didn’t “need” and could be used for a trail. The Council discussed it and they purchased it. Was I surprised to find the “trail” was on the other side of the by-pass with no access to the existing trail? Now it’s an access to ag land the airport owns and can rent on the other side of the creek! The Airport Board is stand-alone, the city owns the airport and the board controls their own money for developing the airport and its maintenance. The rental of property is a large part of their budget. 

With city budgets getting tighter each year, can we afford such foolishness?

Steve Hanken

Monticello