Your Government At Work
Recovery Company Owner Feels Run Over
Bill Valdez lay on his back under hundreds of cars for many, many years to get his business established in Rock Springs. In the early days, he rented shops that had no running water. Even when he finally did work his way into a three-business complex on A Street, he still worked through lunch.
"This business is all about timing. You have to be there when someone walks in the door," Valdez said.
When the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the city of Rock Springs planned A Street improvements, they decided Valdez's building must go to make room for a turning lane and a grassy area. Valdez said the building wasn't for sale.
In 2005, the city initiated eminent domain proceedings to take the building that housed Valdez's three businesses -- Performance Auto Sales, Valdez and Co., and Performance Repo Services. It was appraised at $150,000, but the actual cost to move into something comparable was more than $500,000, according to Valdez.*
Then Valdez discovered there's a cap on how much a condemning entity has to pay to cover the costs of relocation: $10,000. The appraisal process didn't seem fair, either, said Valdez. In fact, nothing about being condemned seemed fair.
"I don't feel the government should have the right to force you into debt," Valdez said. "I'm not asking for a handout. Just don't take my livelihood away."
Bill Valdez lay on his back under hundreds of cars for many, many years to get his business established in Rock Springs. In the early days, he rented shops that had no running water. Even when he finally did work his way into a three-business complex on A Street, he still worked through lunch.
"This business is all about timing. You have to be there when someone walks in the door," Valdez said.
When the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the city of Rock Springs planned A Street improvements, they decided Valdez's building must go to make room for a turning lane and a grassy area. Valdez said the building wasn't for sale.
In 2005, the city initiated eminent domain proceedings to take the building that housed Valdez's three businesses -- Performance Auto Sales, Valdez and Co., and Performance Repo Services. It was appraised at $150,000, but the actual cost to move into something comparable was more than $500,000, according to Valdez.*
Then Valdez discovered there's a cap on how much a condemning entity has to pay to cover the costs of relocation: $10,000. The appraisal process didn't seem fair, either, said Valdez. In fact, nothing about being condemned seemed fair.
"I don't feel the government should have the right to force you into debt," Valdez said. "I'm not asking for a handout. Just don't take my livelihood away."
posted by Dave at 9:40 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home