I would think the price was for the business as a going concern. The property doesn't look like it's worth anywhere near that much, and the building would need a fair bit of work to turn it into anything else. Most of that money is gone.
The funny thing about taxpayers is that they will be initially happy until the long-term financial implications become clear. Then they'll complain about the tax increase, budget cuts depleted reserves or whatever made this possible. That's also assuming it isn't just a vocal minority who are applauding the move in the first place.
When you do something radical like this, even if it's to please your constituents, you'll likely end up in the pillory anyway.
Yeah that's true, but it really is surprising the stupid things that councils will do just to seem like they're 'on the ball'. I still figure if everyone wanted it, then so be it, that's the whole democracy thing in action right there, but I really don't see that being the case.
BUT it really does seem like they were gunning to close that place down. A lazy mill does seem like quite a ridiculous amout to be paying for it really, though I don't know property values in northeast Georgia off the top of my head so I could be wrong there...
Even then, just imagine the legal fees they went through trying to close the place down for seven years as well.
A little research found this article which sheds a little more light on the financial situation for the fine council of Lavonia and what they COULD have bought with the money:
http://onlineathens.com/stories/073108/news_2008073100349.shtmland the following gives us an update on what they plan to do with the site:
http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=212008&c=10Does anyone else seem to think that Fesperman sounds like a bit of a douchebag? ""We all took turns daring each other (to slide down the strippers' poles)," Fesperman said. "But nobody would actually go through with it." ?????????
Wow, what a fella... They are total rebel crazy people who party like nobody's business.
The killer here though is that they burnt all of the signs as a way of making a statement. Considering that the council voted unanimously to buy the property, this really must have been a sore spot for all of them...
Nothing says 'get out of my town' like a bonfire!
Recycling and re-using materials mustn't be big in Georgia.
I wonder how business will go around town now? And all of this is overshadowed by the fact that the initial proprietor died in his sleep at 47. Now that is a sad bit of news, but somehow I don't see the council members being too sorry about that 'minor tragedy.' And where will all the waitresses go?
I wonder how much they'll get for the site?
On a side note, I like the comment in the second link that says 'my cusion used to call CAFE RISQUE and ask for the service dept..'