December 14, 2010
The City Council meets.
They approve spending $4 million of LOST funds to make up the difference between the appraised value and the actual cost.
The City purchases the property for $7.5 million with an agreement to pay nearly $1 million in property tax assistance and 50% of the cost of delays if the delays are the City’s fault, up to $375,000.
December 2, 2010
The citizens’ Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Oversight Committee meets.
They vote 5-2 against using LOST funds for the acquisition of the library.

Vice Chair, Lisa Kuzela, questions the auditor on this, stating that on December 14th Council approved only $4 million . . . "and why isn’t the disbursement listed in our matrix or the financial details that the Oversight Committee was provided?"

City Auditor Casey Drew said the money hasn't been spent yet, and he will check into how much the Council approved.

Kuzela assured that Council approved $4 million.

But, Kuzela had already found that $4.8 million WAS SPENT on December 27, 2010:

February, 3, 2011

The LOST Oversight Committee meets.

The City auditor, Casey Drew, presents a table ("matrix") that states that Council obligated $4.8 million of LOST funds for the Public Library acquisition of the TrueNorth property.

Show me the L.O.S.T. Money!

The City’s “Weekly Paid Claims" for January 11, 2011 shows True North was paid $7.5 million;

  ---  $4.8 million from LOST --- NOT the $4 million that the Council approved.

 

While the City Council approved spending $4 million of LOST to TrueNorth, this voucher proves $4.8 million was expended from the LOST fund (#7968) on December 27, 2010 - see "Voucher," page 5.

 

Why did Cedar Rapids City Auditor Casey Drew, and 

City Manager Assistant Sandi Fowler,

hide this expenditure from the Oversight Committee?

 

Because they spent $800,000 of LOST funds

over and above what Council approved.

Kuzela shared this information on social media and spoke publicly at Council meetings.

June 23, 2013 

The City Council meets.

After waiting 2-1/2 years, they approve spending the $800,000

February 24, 2011

The LOST Oversight Committee meets.

Unprecedented, City Manager Assistant Sandi Fowler attends. While the minutes state Mr. Drew explained the discrepency, it was Ms. Fowler who attempted to justify it by confusing the committee, visitors and local media with complicated jargon.

 

Although it was the norm that local media attended these meetings, after this they never attended again.

The Public Library, part 2 - Local Option Sales Tax 

Get the Facts CR