Vacate Street, vacate alley, vacate alley, vacate alley, STOP...just take it through eminent domain!

There was a time when Tiffin University Officials played fair and honorably` in Tiffin, Ohio. Remember when they wanted to create that nicely landscaped walkway through what is now the North Campus? That area used to be called "Jackson Street" and was home to about a dozen taxpaying home owners. Tiffin University negotiated the purchase of the last of those properties about 20 years ago. Since they purchased the entire block on both sides of Jackson Street, they petitioned Tiffin City Government and were rightfully awarded that part of the public street through a "vacate" ordinance. No one else had a claim to that end of Jackson Street as it dead-ended at the railroad tracks.

Tiffin University followed the same rules for vacating the alleyways that split Jackson Street about halfway down the block and again for the alley that ran parallel to the railroad tracks. University buildings now sit on those former alleyways of the North Campus.

Again-and-again, Tiffin University Officials negotiated the purchase of more properties and used Tiffin City Government "vacate" rules to capture many of the other neighborhood alleyways that used to abut private property. As Tiffin University has grown and prospered with its enormous additions to student population, buildings and financial clout, its appetite for real-estate has fueled a lucrative neighborhood market for real-estate rentals and growth in property valuations.

As Tiffin University has captured more and more real estate through "vacate" ordinances, their purchases of bordering private properties is getting significantly more expensive with time. If you believe in free enterprise, own property, and have been paying attention to property values in the neighborhood, you can't help to smile with glee on the news of the "deals" Tiffin University has made with some of your neighbors!

The so-called "deals" are only partially reported in the newspaper, because they are too financially complex, and would require the Tiffin Advertiser -Trubune to publish about 100 lines of text instead of the one-liner "Property Transfers" that are traditional. Besides, private owners and Tiffin University Officials do NOT want the public to know that they have agreed on sale compensation packages that have been valued at nearly 200 thousand to 500 thousand or more dollars. These same homes, if located away from the University by only two more blocks, would not be valued at half the "deal" compensation. Needless to say, the real-estate professional practice of valuing property by "comps" (comparing recently sold and similar properties) does NOT apply in the Tiffin University neighborhood. This is the reason that property owners, if they can set any jealousy aside, will smile with such glee! They know that one day, their long term determination, foresight to invest in the neighborhood, or luck will eventually see them likewise rewarded.

Because of its success, Tiffin University Officials, sometimes acting in the dual capacity as Private Property developer, have the opportunity to create good will and share their new-found wealth with Tiffin Citizens in the neighborhood. They can afford to buy homes, even at the extraordinary valuations that they created, because they are bursting with resources and know-how and can recover their investment in only a few short years. This "financial machine" is made possible because of the increased cash flow from various fees they charge the continuously growing population of students. It is no secret that college students are a lucrative business.

So, with Tiffin University's wildly successful wealth-generating machine, civic leadership, political clout, and know-how; why are they jeopardizing their own and other's reputations by flogging the five remaining private property owners out of their rights to use the Jackson/Miami Street intersection?

Why is Tiffin University by-passing the normal procedure on Jackson Street for securing a "vacate" ordinance from Tiffin City Council? Why are they taking preliminary Eminent Domain Action against the Monaco Family?

Why does the Miami Street Project from Ordinance 07-70, if allowed to go through, abuse the many neighbors of their right to use Jackson Street, enjoyment of the mature shade trees, and suffer other indignities?

The answers are simple if you think about them. Tiffin University Officials could choose to do the right thing, but how would they save face? That too, is simple. [Just think about it and it will come to you, Dr. Marion.] Please act before it is too late. Not even the Monaco's want TU to fail. They just want to stop the abuses to their family and the neighbors...and so does most everyone else.

Please Vote 'NO' on the Miami Street Project Ordinance 07-70 Referendum.

Vote 'NO'...or Watch the Tax Man commeth!

No matter what other principles of good citizenship and honorable action they take, make NO mistake about Tiffin University. Their Miami Street Improvement project will INCREASE TAXES to Tiffin Taxpayers! But you have an opportunity to prevent that! Think about it.

Citizen TAXPAYERS have been subsidizing Tiffin University's aggressive expansion with TAX Dollars for the last 25 years. This might have been OK when TU was economically weak and uncertain. Now that they have evolved into a powerful and influential economic Juggernaut, they hardly need TAX SUBSIDIES anymore. Please don't encourage Tiffin University Officials to continue exploiting their powerful economic and political influence to use our TAX DOLLARS for projects that hurt or abuse even one Tiffin Citizen of their rights.

On November 4th, please vote 'NO' on the referendum that will spend $800,000 of your tax dollars that Tiffin University does NOT need! Please vote 'NO' on "Ordinance 07-70 Miami Street Project" Referendum that will Close Jackson Street to neighborhood traffic.

Eminent Domain Action by Tiffin University?

After viewing another website that is frequented by Tiffin University Officials, they confirm that University Officials have already started an eminent domain action against the Monaco Family!

According to a conversation I had with a prominent Tiffin civic leader and banker, TU wants the Monaco Family property "...really bad". TU officials are willing to do anything to get it, except pay for it after a good faith negotiation with the Monaco's!

One of the precursors to eminent domain is that the property owners refuse to negotiate with the people seeking to acquire their property. So, whether they win the Miami Street Project Referendum, or not, TU's so called "offers" of $125,000...$150,000...and now the rumored $500,000 have given Tiffin University's President, Paul Marion yet another reason to exploit our Tiffin City Government for your Tax dollars needed to "buy" the property through an eminent domain action. Dr. Marion's plan is to avoid a good faith negotiation by getting the Tiffin City Government to CONDEMN the Monaco Family Home...forcing the Monaco's to give-up their property. It would also clear the way for closing Jackson Street to neighborhood through traffic. Why is it that TU can force our Tiffin City Government to do their "dirty work" for them? Just follow the money!

Director of Tiffin University Development, Mike Grandillo and his 1/2 dozen associates, who always "post" on other websites without using their actual names, have made their sentiments clear! These Anonymous bloggers of Seneca County have NO scruples. They have publicly accused the very elderly Mrs. Monaco of being "greedy": her son is accused of "raping Tiffin University of millions of dollars": and these so-called Tiffin Civic leaders would have the Monaco Family "run out of Dodge"...because the Monaco Family opposes the idea of closing their public street, and donating their home to help Tiffin University advance their strategic plan! The Monaco's are competition that stands in the way of the private real-estate interests, as well as TU Officials...often the same people.

In the end, after the Monaco's decide to leave their property, someone will have to agree on how much the Monaco Family Home is worth to both the Monaco Family and whomever might want to purchase it. How much is it worth to acquire:

1. the ONLY private property that controls permission to have Jackson Street vacated near Tiffin University?

2. the most talked-about, written-about, blogged, and viewed private property in Tiffin, Ohio?

3. the largest home on the largest private lot in the middle of Tiffin University's campus?

4. a house that can be rented to 24 students by the Tiffin University at $4000 per bed?

5. a rental unit size that Tiffin University Officials typically exploit for revenues of $96,000 per year?

6. A Family home to 4 generations of Monaco's who have lived there starting in 1949...and will indefinitely enjoy living among and renting property to college students who need the price break?

7. a property that is considered as a nuisance by TU Officials because the elderly Mrs. Monaco and her family wants to keep their residence on Jackson Street open to through traffic?

8. a property that TU, if they played fair with their neighbors, would be required to ask permission through a "vacation" petition, so they could possibly own the street they want to capture as campus property?

9. a property that stands in the way of TU's Board-approved Strategy to acquire the whole neighborhood?

Why vote 'NO' on Ordinance 07-70 Miami Street Project Referendum? Because you are NOT one of the Anonymous bloggers from Tiffin University! Please join those of us who are Responsible Citizens of Tiffin, Ohio...and cast your 'NO vote. If you don't, you or your neighbor might be next. It is NOT a good use of our TAX DOLLARS!

Joe Monaco
Tiffin, OH Voter

Taxes Subsidize Tiffin University?

Since Tiffin is such a small town with a shrinking population, how do we justify paying taxes from our shrinking tax base to continually subsidize Tiffin University? To explain this, I was told by one of the McDonalds Breakfast Club participants to simply "follow the money!"

It may be true, but I find it hard to accept the insinuation that we have celebrated Civic Leaders who are profiteering from their close relationship with either our Tiffin City Government, or the Tiffin University. There are laws against "private inurement" as the IRS calls it, so its existence in Tiffin would probably be a criminal offense. Does this despicable practice exist in Tiffin, or not?

Follow the money?