OSHKOSH, Wis - The State of Wisconsin spent more than one-million dollars in tax money to buy an adult bookstore. The Department of Transportation needed the store's land for a road expansion, but some people are outraged by the price tag.
"It should have never gone for that kind of money," said Linda Leiby. She owns "Today's Bridal Boutique." "Our lovely state officials are wasting a lot of our taxpayer money," she continued.
So why did the state pay so much? "Supreme Video" had booths for customers to watch pornography. Oshkosh City Ordinances made it nearly impossible to move the business to another part of town. So the Department of Transportation had to buy the building and the business -- for $1.4 million.
However, after collecting the money, "Supreme Video" reopened about two miles down the road - only without the video booths. A manager at the store refused to comment.
TODAY'S TMJ4 asked Department of Transportation spokesman Kris Schuller whether the deal is worth the high cost to taxpayers. Schuller responded, "what I can say to that is that is the negotiated price. The Department really could not have gone any other way. We tried as hard as we possibly could."
At least one nearby property owner is relieved the business is gone. Art Pommerening owns Pommerening Dodge and also owns a large area of land adjacent to the former "Supreme Video" site. He says at least one national retailer was interested in the property but decided not to develop the area because the retailer did not want to be located near an adult bookstore. "It had to go because it was holding up a lot of other potential good tenants to come into town," Pommerening said. - Todays TMJ 4
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