Well I never said I could eliminate intransigent or wanton ignorance!

One of the problems that happen in long, drawn out affairs such as the PRPD/SSI/Senior Center saga, is the proliferation of rumors.  The rumors most times aren’t malicious, just stories based on bad or incomplete information.  A more recent story flying around town was that PRPD intended to make it difficult for seniors to withdraw their assets from the 100 S. Western building.

Now, rumors usually have a kernel of truth, albeit incomplete.  The ignorant, (”lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact”), unfortunately, often take these rumors as gospel truth by virtue of the fact that their contextual grasp of the issue is incomplete.

One such story (rumor) was the recent report that Park Ridge Park District Officials intended to give Seniors a difficult time retrieving their assets from Park District’s 100 S. Western building.  As of this writing, that rumor is not true; and that is a good thing.

I never said I could eliminate intransigent or wanton ignorance. intransigent:(“refusing to compromise: stubbornly or unreasonably refusing even to consider changing a decision or attitude”);  wanton:(“random: lacking reason or provocation”, “desiring to do harm: done out of a desire to cause harm”, “excessive: unrestrained, heedless of reasonable limits, or characterized by greed and extravagance”, or “unruly: lacking discipline”).  However, I can provide facts to those with open eyes and open minds regarding the PRPD/SSI/Senior controversy.

So, lets review the facts acquired from the Park Ridge Park District utilizing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Press here for more information on writing FOIA requests.

FOIA Generated SSI/Senior Asset Ownership Facts

I first heard about PRPD possibly withholding access to Senior Services, Inc. (SSI) owned assets last February.  Wanting to know more, I submitted two Freedom of Information Act (FOIA#’s – 120202-001 and 120207-001) requests, to determine what assets were owned or paid for by SSI seniors – assets they will take with them should the they move into a new facility.  

First FOIA – 120202-001

PRPD Response - FOIA – 120202-001

Extracted Fixed Assets for -“Senior Center” Building

Senior Center Assets From PRPD Report - 03-03-2011

Note: View document on large screen click box at lower right corner.

Now, you’ll notice the two reports are somewhat different. The first report came to me from PRPD under the Freedom of Information Act. (FOIA). Unfortunately, it was incomplete. The second report was created by me. I took the misleading PRPD report data and added, along with some additional calculations, the best replacement values I could find using US Government derived figures. That is the reason the PRPD version only shows a replacement value of $2.467 million while the more complete version shows a truer replacement value of $3,212,301.

Completed -“Senior Center” Building Report

Asset Report PRPD Senior Center

Note: View document on large screen click box at lower right corner.

SSI Senior Magic…

Take a good look at the acquisition dates and cost vs. the replacement cost for these assets. 

As of 03/03/2011, the acquisition cost in 1970 of the 100 S. Western storage building was roughly $140 thousand.  Under SSI/Senior/PRPD’s government/private partnership, and through SSI/Senior magic, the value of that derelict building grew to a little over $3.212 million in replacement value. 

In other words, the property actually grew in value by over $2.476 million.

That’s one hell of an asset appreciation for PRPD’s minimal yearly investment; and what a immense return on investment to the senior community.

Ironically this was is a feather in the then PRPD Board’s hat and a tribute to their prudent actions.

Second FOIA – 120207-001 – SSI Owned Assets

In my judgment…

Fortunately, the rumor was untrue.  But here’s the problem.  Seniors believed the rumor to be true because seniors have been deceived by PRPD leaders multiple times throughout this process and their patience and good will has been abused.  PRPD/SSI and PRPD/Senior Senate relations have been so diminished, these two senior entities are no longer even recognized by Park Board Officials who now fully control the financial destiny of “Park Ridge Park District Senior Center”.    

Without the 30-year collaborative partnership and ongoing energy and generosity of SSI/Seniors, there would be no award-winning Senior Center in Park Ridge, let alone that lovely $ 3.2 million building for that matter.

Of course, it’s just my opinion.