Tamara Finocchiaro, M. J. Page - Building Owners (417) 865-1464

Laura Derrick - Architect (417) 827-8307
I am sure my architect has a dent on the side of her head from banging it on the wall. There is a limit to how many times one can meet with each department, address the issues, submit plans, to simply have the issues and personel change the next time and have to start all over.

Chris Straw, Building Development Services (417) 864-1062
Reviewed initial letter of intent. On September 22, 2004 stated,
"A review of the Zoning Ordinance has revealed that the specific
uses desired for your site are not allowed. While not specified in the letter,
privately I was told "dancing" was the use not allowed in current zoning.

Nick Heatherly, Director of Building Development (417) 864-1000
After a year and half of working with building development staff, finally encountered the man behind it all when his name suddenly appeared in a letter dated January, 20 2006. A letter stating, they have made numerous attempts to work with me with no resolution or completion of requirements. Fumed that my efforts in a year and half to appease the people was unrecognized, I demanded a meeting with all involved. In February 2006 met Nick for the first time at a meeting with entire staff (12 people needed to determine what requirements were needed to make an existing building operational). An amazing, no staggering, waste of city tax funds in my opinion. At first meeting I realized the problem, none of the staff members at the meeting would speak up and acknowledge any agreements or arrangements. They simply pointed with their eyebrows at the boss, indicating we can not speak with "the boss" in the room. Fear of being fired was all over their faces. This man was shockingly ignorant and rude. I was disturbed by his constant inquiry of my intended uses clearly stated in my plans and than expressed udder dismay when he couldn't find the egresses of my property. The egresses are clearly displayed on the plans not too mention they have not moved for 90 years. He could have easily seen them in a walk-thru/drive-by etc. Upon my dismay, justifying his inquiries, he exclaimed, "you are changing the use!" I replied, "I am using a ballroom as a ballroom and a theater as a theater, bedrooms as bedrooms." He responded with. "One more word from you and I will have you shut down". It is now three years later, and this man, the one single handly stopping this project from any approvals or permits and labeling me as having a dangerous building, has never inspected the building.

I cordially invite Mr. Heatherly to my building so he can see for himself, we are not a danger to the people but a gem to the people. A gem worth the awkward entrance and poor planning issues. A gem people will not sue the city over but pay the city to see. A gem he could proudly renew his vows in. A gem worth saving over any egos either of us may have. A gem we shall both one day stand in front of shaking hands, cutting a red ribbon declaring, "today we bring a back a gem to the public honoring the past patrons, servicing the current citizens and protecting for the future generations to come.

Tom Rykowski - City Attorney
Upon my first meeting with him on October 17, 2007, he introduced himself by saying, "I have no authority and I don't speak for myself. I am simply
following the orders of Nick Heatherly."

I hope one day to hear Mr. Rykoski say, "I proudly speak for myself
when I say, I have done my best to limit the liability of the city in this matter, by insuring necessary permits for improvements are granted and by guaranting appropriate, timely and equal treatment has been given to the owners of this project."

Ceceia Copeland - Code Compliance (417) 864 - 1043
Wrote code violation letters to me for two years. Every time I would call her and list everything we had done, have my contractors call and state their work and efforts remind her we are in due process, stop insulting me. After years of accusing me of violations, she actually inspected me on October 30, 2007 for the first time (two and a half years into this). Her comment was after all this, "You have a nice building, you better do it right". Our response, it is nice because we have done it right. Then she proceeded to give us an 18 item punch list and three days to complete it. For code compliance, she is not up on her codes and focuses on petty items often missing the big picture. I was hoping we would get the demand to put our front handrail in. Something we got design approval from the landmarks board in Feb '05 but have been denied the permit to install, but no. We did her punch list at least the items that were rational, some were doubling of code requirements, we did those anyway. I refused to install the exit lights redirecting people back into the building as she requested and was denied electrical permits for the few other ones requested. So I ordered self-luminous ones. She refused my request for reinspection on November 15th and shut me down as a dangerous building on November 16, 2007.

Dave Cantrell - Fire Marshall, Arson Investigation
Never been on or in my property until October 31, 2007 when I was required to pay a fire marshall to stand outside my building for the duration of my events to count people to make sure we don't go over capacity. Apparently, I am the first business in the City of Springfield to be ordered to do this at a cost of $56/hr (time and a half plus liability coverage). All because they thought I was going to have some raucous event, a dance - a ballroom dance. On November 16th, after never stepping past my foyer, never inspecting my fireproof building for fire safety, shut me down as a dangerous building. A bit disappointing to us.

Mark Epps and Ben Basham - Fire Marshalls
They only two fire marshalls to ever inspect my building after years of request. Such a breath of fresh air from the others. They read and follow code and they actually inspect the building. Visibly impressed with the construction and fireproof nature of the building upon inspection. Wish the city was full of these people. Too bad by the time they retire, the pension fund will have been depleted.