I am not in the least surprised you completely failed to realize what a terrible deal that was. There was no guarantee the VA wanted the building, but if they did, it would have required a $14-million loan with a 25-year period based on a 10-year contract. Even a monkey with its shoes on could do the math on that. Only a complete and absolute ignorant fool would have supported that deal, especially with an extra fee for the “broker,” which explains why you won’t shut up about it. Wanna buy a bridge? Very low miles…

God bless our Armed Forces.

LA
How is looking at a proposal to lease part of a building to build a clinic that treats veterans “ controversy “ ?

Barbara
To answer your question
The VA expanded much needed health care to veterans . Many veterans and their families told me of the their struggles to get care . Also the gym is losing money and the building has $ 1,000,000 in repairs. The VA lease brought in $375,000 per year and that would have paid for the repairs. I saw the VA as a synergy. Treating veterans and putting the evolutions building in a strong financial position. That would have insured the gym has a good future. We passed on financial security for a financial question mark . I saw the VA lease as saving the gym for gym members . It wasn’t that long ago we were trying to sell evolutions in order to pay off our debts .

You say 14 million dollars for a loan to make improvements but that is not the true picture the actual number was a lot less . You say the gym is back in the black but that was not said that night . We talked about how the gym is losing money and TLCHD is paying the debt . The money the district has in the bank is already earmarked to fulfill the bankruptcy plan to pay off the creditors , we also have to pay for upgrades in the hospital . You didn’t mention the VA would have brought in $375,000 in lease payments per year .

That’s money that could have gone to make repairs on the Evolutions building which does add up to $1,000,000 . HVACs are all worn out . The parking lot is $500,000 and the pool is $300,000 . Not to mention other repairs. The district has no money to spend on evolutions . There are 88,000 people in the district and the board has to consider everyone of them .

You try to paint a rosy financial picture but that’s not the case when you add in the issues evolutions has . The VA would have brought financial security to the gym plus expanded treatment for veterans while still having a new remodel gym . It was a win win . You need to correct your article ! the gym is not in back in the black . Maybe your readers who want better information can go read the Visalia times Delta’a article on this meeting.

The Veteran’s Memorial Building on Tulare Ave. was built to honor all those who served. What better way to live up to that pledge than to house a veteran’s medical clinic in this largely unused building. The building is big enough to do the job. Providing health care for veterans will do far more to help our veterans when compared to what little monies is collected by the Tulare Veterans Memorial District on their sporadic leasing of rooms inside the building for public events.

Just to note the obvious, Marmie Fidler is a highly respected community member and successful business woman. It is ludicrous to think for one minute that her integrity is to be questioned. If she has an edge on the market for grave markers at the cemetery it is because the majority of Tulareans normally think of Barnes Memorial first as it been in business since 1948 and their workmanship stands the test of time. People are not forced purchase their grave markers from Barnes.