Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, March 17, 2008

Tom Schommer, Candidate for Mayor of Norfolk, releases the following statement regarding public statements of opposition to a Shared Facility Concept by another Mayoral candidate.

I would like to begin by saying that I am not here today speaking on behalf of the Shared Facility Workgroup. This is a personal statement in response to public statements of opposition to a Shared Facility Concept made by another Mayoral candidate. That statement as well as similar comments made by the Mayor an city administration do not accurately reflect the intent or purpose of the Shared Facility Workgroup. The purpose of today’s statement is to set the record straight.

First off, I am both surprised and disappointed that a Mayoral candidate whom I have a great deal of respect for, would choose to politicize such an important issue as this one is to our community. From the very beginning, I have made every effort to be inclusive and to reach out to all stakeholders that may be affected by this concept, including the only other declared Mayoral candidate at the time.

During the 3rd meeting of the Shared Facilities Workgroup, I suggested to the group that I felt it would be appropriate to have the other Mayoral candidate involved in these discussions, considering the long-term implications these discussions could have on our community. All members of the workgroup agreed and I personally invited the her to be involved in the discussions. She was thankful for the invitation and accepted.

I immediately sat down with her privately in an effort to bring her up to date. I explained that our group was about developing different choices (not a Plan) that would allow for the possibility of having City Hall be a part of either a Multi-Building Campus, or a Single Building Shared Facility located somewhere in the downtown corridor of Norfolk. I also mentioned to her how the workgroup has discussed several locations that could work for either the Multi-Building Campus or the Single Shared Facility concept.

It is very important to understand that during our workgroup meetings, we did discuss several different funding options, including the following:

1. Have a private investment group take on the project and enter into a separate lease or lease purchase agreement with the city as well as enter into an independent lease or lease purchase agreement with each of the potential partners. This option would keep the funding separate between the City and the potential partners.

2. Using the City as the conduit to access low interest, tax-free Municipal Bonds, the City would enter into a lease and in turn sub-lease to the other public entities. This option would most likely provide the lowest cost financing for all parties involved.

3. Having the City go it alone and the Shared Facility Workgroup go it alone and make every effort to try and locate the individual facilities in a close proximity to each other. This option would require both parties to be independently responsible to secure their own funding and would not tie the projects together in any way.

4. Open to other options that might come up.

It was never the intent of the Workgroup to develop a PLAN for the City, simply assist in developing different CHOICES to be discussed. It has always been the desire of the Workgroup to work closely with the City of Norfolk in a respectful and cooperative spirit, to create a new image of how our community can work together.

Several of the city council members have been very cooperative with respect to this issue. However, we were hopeful that the City Administration would be a much more willing participant in these discussions than they have been up to this point.

I am both surprised and disappointed that another Mayoral candidate has taken the same position as the Administration has on this issue. I was hoping for something a little different, not more of the same.

I am surprised that she would, without all of the facts, take this position during the same time as the very group she is involved with, is developing other choices, including a Campus concept that would have the City in a separate building than the Shared Facility housing the other partners. Additional choices allows for more public input.

* At the same time, I am disappointed in the fact that she lacks the confidence, and questions the ability of members of the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce, Norfolk Area Recruiters, State of Nebraska, Madison County, Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District, Elkhorn Valley Economic Development Council, Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the local SCORE Chapter, to meet their obligations once they have committed to a project.

I view that lack of confidence as the same old mindset that this city has maintained in the past, and we are trying to get past that. This is an opportunity to begin a NEW process of partners working together in Norfolk, verses the old-school mindset of the past.

These are organizations that have been years in existence. As an example, the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce had its origin way back in 1895. While one or two of the entities are relatively new, they will continue to play a vital role in economic development in the Norfolk, area well into the future.

*I wish to underscore the following statement:* Recent statements by the Mayor and the Administration have been reported through the local media implying that this project would raise taxes. Let me clearly state that those comments are simply not true. It is nothing more than well crafted scare tactics being used without any validation.

NONE OF THE FUNDING OPTIONS CURRENTLY BEING DISCUSSED WILL RAISE TAXES.

What our city really needs to do is to prioritize the important projects and opportunities that face our community. This concept of a Shared Facility or a Campus of Separate Facilities is simply one project that needs to be added to the list of items to be prioritized by our elected officials, before any decision is made on any of them.

While I agree we need to improve recreational facilities and infrastructure in Norfolk, we must not neglect to address and prioritize all major issues that our city faces today.

It is irresponsible to rule out any reasonable option currently being discussed regarding City Hall, until all options have been considered and a feasibility and space needs study has been completed.

I am looking forward to continued public input and dialogue on this matter as well as other important issues facing our city today, so in the final analysis, we can all feel good about the decisions we make.

Thank You.