Columbia Is Sued Over Columbia Crossing Development

Terry Grewe, of development company G.J. Grewe, at a recent Columbia City Council meeting.

The city of Columbia is heading to federal court as a result of their continuing squabble over the proposed Columbia Crossing development. Julie Waters, an attorney for developer G.W. Grewe & Co., served notice of a pending lawsuit against the city to Columbia City Attorney Tom Adams during Tuesday night’s city council meeting.

Adams received the paperwork as the council prepared to enter executive session to discuss a separate legal issue regarding the Shoemaker School. Following the executive session, the council agreed to accept the notice as presented, allowing them 60 days to respond. There were an estimated 100 to 125 people at Tuesday night’s meeting, which was moved to the second-floor auditorium to accommodate the unusually large number of people in attendance.

Grewe and his attorneys had warned the city council earlier this summer they would take legal action if they failed to follow through in good faith on previously agreed to provisions relating to the development.

The two counts of the lawsuit claim the city of Columbia is in breach of contract and anticipatory repudiation regarding Columbia’s alleged failure in obligations of the Master Development Agreement. The agreement was a contract signed between Grewe and Columbia in 2004 to reasonably cooperate in good faith to obtain financing to fund the 3,000-acre Columbia Crossing project. In the lawsuit, Grewe is asking for a settlement in excess of $2,500,000 it has spent so far in the planning and development of Columbia Crossing. In addition, per the Master Development Agreement, the prevailing party would be responsible for payment of all reasonable attorneys’ fees.

“I am disgusted with the developer,” said Alderman Jay Unnerstall. “I hope now the truth comes out in this matter.”

The council has been deadlocked on this and other issues since the March election when an Unnerstall-led faction took office and started voting as a block resulting in a 5-3 majority against most matters regarding Columbia Crossing.

The aldermen did vote in favor last night to release the funds to pay Horner & Shifrin for engineering work conducted in 2006 at the Fish Lake interchange on I-255, the future entrance to the large development planned for the bottoms area. Voting for the measure were Dan Row, Fred Stumpf, Gene Ebersohl, Mary Ellen Niemietz and Jim Agne.

County Economic Director Resigns: Mark Kurtz announced yesterday he is stepping down from his position as director of the Monroe County Economic Development Council. He was hired in March 2006 and was the first person to hold that position. “He was a great asset to the county and we wish him the best in his new endeavors,” said County Commissioner Dale Haudrich. Kurtz did not provide a reason for his resignation. The commissioners will soon begin looking for a replacement, Haudrich said.

Melissa, Tim, Abbey and Amanda Lammert were the Family of the Game on Tuesday at the Gateway Grizzlies Game. They had lawn tickets, but were upgraded to seats near home plate. The Grizzlies lost 5-4 in their first of five division series games against the Washington Wild Things.

Recent Obituaries
Patsy Dollins nee Holt, 71, of Dupo, died Sept. 4, at Canterbury Manor in Waterloo. She was a homemaker and member of the American Legion Post 484 Ladies Auxiliary. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Melvin Godare; her second husband, Frank Dollins Sr.; daughter, Kathy Godare; granddaughter, Haley Dollins; brother, Bill Holt; and best friend, Marjorie Howell. Survivors include daughter, Mary (Rob) Carner; sons John (Becky) Eldridge and Butch Dollins; and brother, Charles (Joyce) Eldridge. Visitation is Thursday, Sept. 6, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Dashner Funeral Home. Funeral will follow at 7 p.m.