By James B. Bartle,
Editor
This past week, the Sullivan Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand reopening of the Highway 185 Garage at their new location on Highway 185 South.
What is troubling to me, with this grand celebration, was just how it took place.
The business, owned by Jack Sohn, was located just south of the Interstate 44 East overpass and next to the South Service Rd. for over 31 years. Over those years, Sohn saw Wal-Mart, AutoZone, Steak ‘n Shake, Payless Shoe and Kentucky Fried Chicken become his neighbors and receive access to the South Service Rd. for their buildings. As I understand it, Sohn never was allowed to have access to his property from the South Service Rd. nor Highway 185. I understand that to an extent, but what I don’t understand is the way the entire condemnation of Sohn’s property and business took place.
The Missouri Department of Transportation and the State of Missouri are going to relocate the South Service Rd. to the south of Sohn’s previous location and construct a new intersection near the present Lowe’s intersection and, from what I understand, it may be a lighted intersection. So, instead of coming to an agreement on what Sohn’s property was worth, the state put the property in condemnation and forced Sohn out of his own property on April 14.
Keep in mind that no construction has begun on this project and is not expected to begin, according to all indications, until maybe September. Thus, Sohn couldn’t operate his business and had to close for three months while a new business location was purchased and a building constructed. So, not only has his previous building set vacant for months, his employees had lost wages for three months, he’s out the expense of constructing a new facility and all for a relocation of the South Outer Rd. that has not even begun!
To me personally, this incident that has occurred with this longtime local business displays all that is wrong with the government and why the American people become so frustrated. I know what Sohn was offered for his building and property by the state and, to be honest, it wasn’t a drop in the bucket to what was paid for property along the Elmont overpass or for what present businesses near Sohn’s property paid for their prime locations.
My uncle, Steve Bartle, once told me, “Jim, you should save up enough money to buy you some property and get it paid for. Once you have it paid for and pay your taxes each year, it’s yours—your property, your dirt!”
Well, I can tell my uncle now. That’s not the truth anymore. Clearly, if the government wants your property, they can simply take it if they want to.
I know that progress has to be made and that the East Overpass is a congested area, but prior to development in the area, Sohn quietly operated his business, paid for his building and property and was very successful. It wasn’t until development and growth grew up around him that all of a sudden the little guy (Of course, Jack is a big man.) was forced out by progress.
To be honest, that doesn’t sit well with me. My best advice to the State of Missouri and MoDOT, “Find a better way of doing things. I know there is common ground that can be found with most people and I know Sohn just wants his fair price for what has been his family’s entire life. If you’re going to force someone out of their business, make sure you’re ready to begin construction immediately. For a business to not operate for months and no action taken place on the new progress just leaves a bad taste in your mouth.”
I wish the best of luck to the Sohn family at their new location and hope the State of Missouri does the right thing and corrects the wrongs of this entire project—that has still not started.