Janesville's Dark Store Community Grows

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Essentially, a lawyer preys on the city by arguing that a building is unique to a company’s needs and should be compared to a similar building that’s vacant or “dark.” -- Janesville Gazette Editorial, March 18, 2016

The following is a list of known dark store refunds issued in Janesville during the past two years including four new settlements this week.

The refund total for 2017 alone stands at $849,637. Hang on folks, because there are still two months left in the year.

Oct. 23, 2017
JBRC Investments - Authorization for the Administration to settle claims of excessive assessment from JBRC Investments, 1310 Plainfield Ave., in the amounts of $3,165.65, $3,025.20, and $3,556.94.
TOTAL: $9,749.79 refund

Oct. 23, 2017
Bank Mutual - Authorization for the Administration to settle claims of excessive assessment from Bank Mutual, 2111 Holiday Drive, in the amounts of $2,533.93 and $3,435.64.
TOTAL: $5,959.57 refund

Oct. 23, 2017
Dickens Partners - Authorization for the Administration to settle claims of excessive assessment from Dickens Partners LLP, 4323 Milton Ave., in the amounts of $17,182.15, $19,065.20, and $25,038.20.
TOTAL: $61,285.54 refund

Oct. 23, 2017
Grafft Trust - Authorization for the Administration to settle claims of excessive assessment from James and Heidi Grafft Irrevocable Trust, 15 W. Milwaukee St., in the amounts of $12,999.88, $12,758.83, and $16,445.68.
TOTAL: $42,204.39 refund

June 12, 2017
Menards - Authorizing the Administration to settle claims of excessive assessment from Menard, Inc. in the amounts of $164,744.01, $68,667.22, $71,198.62, and $98,398.06.
TOTAL: $403,007.90 refund

Feb. 13, 2017
Blain's Farm and Fleet - Authorizing the Administration to settle claims of excessive assessment from Blain’s Farm and Fleet Supply Inc. in the amounts of $67,932.23, $66,612.03, $85,117.80, and $107,767.31.
TOTAL: $327,429 refund

July 11, 2016
Janesville Gazette - Authorization for the Administration to approve a settlement between the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Bliss Communications, Inc., for real property assessments located at 333 S. Wuthering Hills Drive and 1 S. Parker Drive (Gazette).
TOTAL: $31,602.98 refund

Feb. 22, 2016
U.S. Bank - Authorizing the Administration to settle claims of excessive assessment from US Bank NA, 2732 Milton Avenue, in the amounts of $9,499.65, $9,315.05, and $9,325.03.
TOTAL: $28,139.70 refund

The fix is so economical and easy that it's time Janesville residents and other cities in Wisconsin under dark store siege begin considering the possibility that attorneys and/or other professionals ill advising city officials that it's cheaper to settle might be actual participants in the awards. It's just that bad and obvious.