The building, its future, and the insurance money were the topics for discussion during the November and December council meetings. The points of discussion were what to do with the insurance money and what to do with the building.
Discussion points:
1. Repairing the building for a new tenant. Barb Rathbun had been in communication with Munchies in Lincoln to determine the interest in the Barnard café. Their response was unknown in November.
2. Using the insurance money to reimburse the angel donors. This notion was dismissed because the donors had given the money to the city for the building. It was not a loan.
3. Repairing the building and selling it.
4. Keeping the insurance money and selling the building as is.
During the December council meeting, it was determined that the city would keep the insurance money and put the building up for sale as is. It was stated that there were several interested parties interested in the building. The city will be accepting bids through the end of December.
The café had several re-starts after Betty Loy closed Betty's Place a number of years ago. Subsequent attempts at opening the restaurant were unsuccessful for various reasons such as arbitrary hours of operation, food quality, price, and hospitality. Several community members stated that the café had nothing to draw people in unlike Betty's Place, which received national attention. State highway employees said that they all wanted to get the Barnard run when they had to work on the roads. If they got the morning run, they could get cinnamon rolls and if they got the afternoon run, they could get Betty's chicken. Could Betty be persuaded to re-open Betty's Place?
I am may be out of line commenting on this as I don't know all of the facts, reasoning or city business, but it seems a little strange that the city is keeping the money & selling the building as is. Just from this blog, I read that there were funds donated by an "angel donor for the building". Clearly that "angel" donor wanted to see that building in operating order. If I was the "angel" donor, I would feel like that is a huge slap in the face from the city. Not only did they collect $6000 from the insurance company to cover repairs, but they are also going to sell the building...is that not double dipping? What is going to be done with the money? Street repairs? Updates to other dilapidated buildings on Main St? I would think that if the city wants the Café up & running, they would not try to sell a building that needs the known amount $6000 in repairs just get be brought to working order. I am not from Barnard, but I am from a small town that has a very established Café (17 years), the love of the owner & the respect from the community members keep the doors open & the drive alive. I am not sure Betty's reasoning for closing her doors, but maybe the members of Barnard should step back and think, did we take advantage of such a kind soul? National recognition is nothing when the ones close to you don't respect you! Just saying!
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