Batavia putting cart before the horse?

I believe I used the term "Cart before the Horse" regarding the 1 N. Washington project in Batavia a number of times.

I read your May 24 article about Batavia City Tax Increment Financing fund and loans to be given for the Briana's restaurant to be built downtown at 10 N. Island Ave.

I then looked at the property and just as the article in the Herald stated, it looks like the restaurant is already about half built out.

My immediate thought is: Are all these deals 100 percent arranged behind closed doors then pro forma formal votes are taken at the official Committee of the Whole and City Council meetings?

Why is the city giving taxpayers' money and loans if the owner is apparently already committed to this project even before the owners know if they will get any TIF Funds or loans from the city?

Are all these deals being made outside of the required public meetings and transparency regarding spending of the public's tax dollars before any public input is heard or any open discussions are held in the official meetings?

Is someone at the city promising that they will be able to deliver the necessary council votes to these developers and businesses for these projects way before there is any public disclosure?

It is my understanding that the TIFs in Batavia are broke. So where is this money coming from?

This seems like the taxpayers are being used and cheated again out of their hard earned dollars to be given to developers and businesses.

Carl Dinwiddie

Batavia