A Predator is coming to Overland

Dear Friend in Overland,

Something very distrurbing came to my attenion on a recent visit to city hall for a Overland Farmers Market meeting. Posted on the notices board near the front door was an announcement and agenda for an upcoming Board of Adjustment meeting. One of the items on the agenda was the bringing of a “Title Max” to Overland.

Are you familiar with Title Max and like companies? Title Max is one of the various companies that will loan one money at interest rates that would make a loan shark shudder using one’s car title as collateral. Not only do they charge outrageous interest rates, often people end up losing their car (and thus their way to the job they do have to pay the bills).

The Title Loan companies can be grouped with check cashing places, payday loan establishments, and signature loan businesses as PREDATORY LENDERS. I have very strong feelings about companies such as these that take advantage of those in need, people who often end up in more dire straits than when they walked through the doors of these establishments. In these uncertain financial times, many people will be false lured into thinking there problems can be solved via these businesses. Do we want to invite a company that’s sole purpose is to prey upon the people of our town?

Secondly, having this Title Max business on Page Ave creates an image problem for Overland. Inviting in predatory lenders basically dis-invites better businesses to our city. Our city recently went through months of reviewing and updating our comprehensive plan. I don’t recall them saying these were the types of businesses we hope to attract. In fact, many business planners will see the predatory lenders in a city and think “oh, its one of those cities” and not bring their business here. Is this moving in the right direction?

We can take action now before this goes any further. I will be sending letters to my City Council members and the mayors. Unfortunately, I have to work the night of Wednesday, December 10 or I would attend the meeting of the Board of Adjustment. In my place, I am sending a registered letter to city hall and requesting that it be read into the record as a citizen statement.

I urge you to join me in taking action.

• Write your council members and mayor.
• Attend the December 10 meeting or write the Board of Adjustment.
• If you know any members of the Board of Adjustment (below), I recommend you bend their ear on the subject.
• Forward this to other Overland residents who will share our concern about a Title Max coming into Overland.
  

Members of the Board of Adjustment per city website:

• Tom Eckert
• Bob Aston
• Rudolph E. Kuhlmann
• Jack Arnold
• Dennis Hageman
• Jon Seal (Alternate)
  
  
  

Question I would ask....

What's the upcoming municipal elections without campaigning--that includes door knocking and a debate or two. The good thing about both of those is that it provides the electorate with a chance to ask questions about what is important to them.

One thing that I believe is the most shameful thing since Ol' Empty took office is his effort to push a pool company into the city, along with its dangerous chemicals. This was especially on my mind when watching a recent Channel 4 investigative report on Thursday. The report detailed how dangerous chemicals are all around us, but we are not aware of such. This seemed especially heinous since the EPA mandates that we are to be informed.

For those who didn't see this, the report is on the KMOV website, here. In addition, the "investigative team" has a blog that goes into further detail about some sites. And, of course, there is one smack dab in Overland. That blog entry is here.

Now back to my original point. If I was to run across a candidate that is not currently on the board (since we know how they have voted), my question would be in regards to how they would handle the inquiry of such a business coming into a highly residential area.

If you were going to ask a question, what would it be?