It's a step, however small it might be

WANTED: Passionate Sycamore Fanatics. That You?

Register NOW to join our community of die-hard Sycamore fans.

What has been described is not unique to ISU. It also aptly describes the U.S. Congress which in all is wisdom has created the need to hold meeting after meeting to determine if a turtle, or a Scrub Jay, or a multi colored frog might be displaced.

Shoot, I'll take them meeting over that versus some of the stuff they actually do waste their time on.
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
if ISU were a private business and not REQUIRED to conform to a different set of rules, regulations...

if they could just bribe the local government officials to "condemn" the desired area...

every place (except 1-person small businesses) is burdened with a bureaucracy; definitely not a fan of it but when it comes to government entities obtaining private land... it understand it... ISU should BE a good neighbor, even if they ARE the 'biggest' neighbor in the neighborhood.

have to believe many, many folks THRIVE on the bureaucracy; up to Dr Bradley and his crew to keep on top of them.


Don't confuse it...ISU is one thing. But we are talking about the private holding company and the foundation which are not state entities. They are "private" and/or "foundational" entities. Sure they are "run" by ISU in essence, but they are not 'beholden" to the same rules and regulations to obtain the land

No one is suggesting that they bride anyone. What I mean by making fun of the ridiculous meetings that occur is that ISU will just sit and spin its wheels or just fall asleep at the wheel in the walmart parking lot, rather than move. When I say ISU, in this case I mean the foundation and holding company that purchases the land, which is typically then sold to ISU and becomes state property. It is a beaurcratic nightmare for ISU to buy land, which is why they set up holding companies.

Any business needs to have meetings, anyone needs to plan, but they take it to a congressional level that I have never seen. I work, everyday with institutions of higher education throughout this state, and NON...NON are as bad as ISU in terms of the bureaucracy...NON!!!!
 
Last edited:
What has been described is not unique to ISU. It also aptly describes the U.S. Congress which in all is wisdom has created the need to hold meeting after meeting to determine if a turtle, or a Scrub Jay, or a multi colored frog might be displaced.

Its very true. I am reminded about the $60K expense back when old Benji was president...to move a tree. To move a tree...and they had probably 35 meetings to decide that. They could have actually cut the tree down, milled it, made a nice set of park benches out of it and students could have been enjoying them in the time they took to decide if they should cut it down or move it.

He was the worst University President I have ever seen!
 
Don't confuse it...ISU is one thing. But we are talking about the private holding company and the foundation which are not state entities. They are "private" and/or "foundational" entities. Sure they are "run" by ISU in essence, but they are not 'beholden" to the same rules and regulations to obtain the land

No one is suggesting that they bride anyone. What I mean by making fun of the ridiculous meetings that occur is that ISU will just sit and spin its wheels or just fall asleep at the wheel in the walmart parking lot, rather than move. When I say ISU, in this case I mean the foundation and holding company that purchases the land, which is typically then sold to ISU and becomes state property. It is a beaurcratic nightmare for ISU to buy land, which is why they set up holding companies.

Any business needs to have meetings, anyone needs to plan, but they take it to a congressional level that I have never seen. I work, everyday with institutions of higher education throughout this state, and NON...NON are as bad as ISU in terms of the bureaucracy...NON!!!!

Given the past relationships (and some say current) between ISU and the City, County and citizens; ISU is best served by being open about its plans.

I'm not advocating bureaucracy, just understanding that with SOME issues, the citizenry deserves to be kept in the loop. And at the end of the day, the people on the 'pointy end of the spear' MAY not be ALLOWED to work any faster; there are thousands of things that I'd love to do QUICKER in my job; my boss disagrees; he LOVES bureaucracy (as does his boss); they equate it to 'power'
 
I agree with you. They need to open and honest, but when push comes to shove, ISU is the largest employer in the county, ISU is the biggest economic piece to the puzzle in TH and the county. The land between ISU and the river has little value to anyone other than ISU...for example the bowling alley could easily be relocated or bought outright, it is very small and does a modest business. It would behove ISU to actually find them a location on the other side of campus, build them a new building and then "swap" of course with ISU compensating for the move and potential loss of business...that is just one example.

The gas station is the one that I am concerned about. That Gas station is incredibly busy and does a good business...I would imagine it will come at a premium because they will argue that their location is the reason for the business that they do.
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
for example the bowling alley could easily be relocated or bought outright, it is very small and does a modest business. It would behove ISU to actually find them a location on the other side of campus, build them a new building and then "swap" of course with ISU compensating for the move and potential loss of business...that is just one example.

I disagree with the amount of business that it does.. I've been in leagues in there, and they do a pretty good ISU business a couple nights a week too with the "wrist band" nights - all pool and bowling for one price... even more popular with the high school crowd. Loud music and dance club lights, etc. They also have a bar in back that has bands now..
Bowling alleys aren't cheap to build. It can be done, but it will cost $
The gas station is pretty dirty, but it is busy.. Not sure that they would even try to buy it out.. might be of benefit to the football crowd... not sure.
 
I agree that it is busy, but I can't imagine that the business itself would be valued at that much due to the overhead and costs associated with running it, insuring it, etc. Just like any bar, restaurant, etc. Considerable costs go back into runnning the business. I would not think that if the Imperial Lanes was valued for sale that it would be worth all that much in comparison to the Gas Station was my point. Correct me if I am wrong, but those are really the only two businesses left over there that ISU is going to want, correct?

And I know it has leagues..but also look at Imperial vs. Vigo or TH bowl. It only has what 20 lanes...it is considerably smaller than others in town. It can't hold near as many leagues because it is not near the same size as the others. As far as the wrist band and pool tables...those don't make them any money at all, they make their money off the sale of food and alcohol...the pool is what gets people there. That is why there are very, very few pool halls anymore, no money in it. My simple point is that it is feasible that ISU can obtain that property or create a situation where the owners are happy to move and get a new building out of the deal. According to the plans, ISU will have to move the gas station.
 
Look.. My only point is that there is a current historical business there - and the business is not in trouble (unlike Farmer's Market). The owners have no reason to be looking to sell (in fact, they have added on and improved), therefore, they will have to be "encouraged"... only way to do that is with $$.
(Doesn't matter what it's worth if the owner doesn't WANT to sell...) I understand business - and know what "loss leaders" are and where profit margins are. As far as that goes, gas stations don't make much money off of gas sales either.

There is also Pizza City that is right next door to the Farmer's Market building.
 
Last edited:
Oh I get what you are saying...no doubt. What I am thinking, IMHO, is that Pizza City and Bowing alley don't have large multinational corporations backing them. ISU can probably "persuade" them to move and even potentially sweeten the deal for them to move with contracts, agreements, etc. new locations that are right next to the stadium/complex grounds, etc. But the gas station has corp. backing, they certainly don't make a great deal of money off gas, it is the convenience store where they make money..food, polar pops, cigarettes, lotto. But because it is a franchise they have access to corporate lawyers, appraisers, etc. They have the ability to call upon resources that the other businesses most likely can't afford.

I am not suggesting that the bowling alley is in trouble or not doing well. I am suggesting that, there is overhead, labor costs, upkeep, etc. that make the margins all that great. I would think that, if ISU offered a good deal that would allow for increased profits in the long run...they would go for it, if it did not cost them any further investment initially
 
Back
Top