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Lisbon council rescinds revitalization district bid

LISBON — Village council on Tuesday rescinded legislation that would have allowed for the creation of a revitalization district.

Village Solicitor Megan Bickerton explained that the application that was submitted to Mayor Joseph Morenz did not meet the proper state criteria.

The application was submitted by Scratch owner Jason Geissinger, who is leasing the building at 130 S. Market St. from Anthony Sylvester.

Bickerton said an application can only be submitted by a property owner.

She went on to say that when she drafted the resolution for council to vote on to create a revitalization district, there was not any indication that Geissinger was not the owner of the building.

“I was under the belief that he was the owner. I did receive a call from the mayor asking about this. That was the first time I learned that he was renting the property,” she said of Geissenger.

According to previous reports, Geissinger was attempting to designate the downtown area as a state revitalization district in order to seek a state liquor license for the establishment.

“In order for the resolution to carry and pass muster it would need to be the property owner. (Geissinger) is not in the position to make the application,” Bickerton said.

As a result she recommended council rescind the resolution.

She did say the application met all other necessary criteria, except the fact that it was not submitted by a property owner, and added that anyone in the area who is a property owner and would like to see a revitalization district created could submit an application.

She was not aware of any property owners interested in doing so at this time, and referred that question to Mayor Joseph Morenz, who was absent from the meeting.

When contacted later, Morenz said that no one else has submitted an application for a district, and he is not aware of anyone interested in doing so.

kwhite@mojonews.com

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