Hoeft, Kennedy Clash On Community Comment
2/28/11 - Jay Hoeft says he is closing his controversial Fountain Inn Tavern on Tuesday. The century-old building was constructed over the Beaver Dam River and is in violation of modern state statutes. Hoeft balked at a city buy-out offer that led to the demolition of ten other buildings and is apparently in negotiations with the DNR. Tensions ran high on Friday after Hoeft leveled accusations against Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy during WBEV’s Community Comment program. Kennedy shot back saying that Hoeft has been trying to scare people for the past two years by “spouting off” that the city has not complied with orders to repair the dam. Kennedy says the city’s dam is in “perfect condition.”
While Hoeft cited public safety as a reason for closing his doors, he also criticized the city’s actions during the post-flood buy-out, which saw owners for ten of eleven properties get 100% of their pre-flood assessed value. Hoeft says the city threatened property owners with condemnation if they did not accept an initial offer for 65% of the assessed value. Kennedy says the city “did not threaten” anyone but he acknowledged that the DNR could order demolition of floodway properties. Hoeft told Kennedy he wished he would have known about the buy-out plan before he sunk money into re-opening his bar. Kennedy says he is glad to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel he just doesn’t know how far away the light is as an agreement between Hoeft and the DNR has not been finalized. The DNR’s Jim Congdon told us on Friday that the two sides are negotiating but he says the department’s policy is that any information concerning land negotiations is confidential until the transaction is complete.
Click Below To Listen To Community Comment Segment from 2/25/11: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWJcHcpUw9s
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