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Who's to blame for the LiquiPur problem?

By GREG PECK ( Contact ) Monday, January 11, 2010 - 2:39 p.m.

When LiquiPur announced plans in 2008 to start bottling beverages in Janesville, we applauded the promise of 90 jobs coming to town. Now, Jeff Helgesen, owner of the industrial building LiquiPur chose to lease, says he just wants the hundreds of thousands in rent that LiquiPur owes him.

A LiquiPur official says Helgesen's accusations of deceit hinder their efforts to close a deal with investors. Meanwhile, the city has already given LiquiPur half of a $200,000 forgivable loan.

Last week, Helegesen evicted LiquiPur from his building and started moving out equipment without a bottle ever being filled.

Who, if anyone, is to blame?

We'll share our thoughts in Tuesday's Gazette editorial.

Greg Peck

reader COMMENTS

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(5)

oldvet
Jan 13, 2010 at 6:07 a.m.
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pbr man: A guy as smart as you should be able to figure out how paying a company with our tax money to locate and stay here is a bribe. I'll let you try to get your pbr soaked brain around that thought. (yes, I have the time to wait) By the way, how IS that $100,000.00 bribe working out for you? For me and my fellow taxpayers it was just another welfare payment for naught. Maybe, since you obviously think the bribe was such a good idea, you will want to re-imburse Janesville taxpayers for the lost (as in down the drain) $100,000.00? Let us know pbr man....lol

Unidentified
Jan 12, 2010 at 8:29 a.m.
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It sounds to me like a bad business plan. The city can only do so much and we can't expect Helgesen to allow the company to stay rent free.

PBRMan
Jan 12, 2010 at 8:02 a.m.
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oldvet - how is the city to blame? You would think a guy as old as you are, and been around as long as your have been, would be smarter than that. You tell me your employment history, and I will tell you an incedent where you were "bribed" also (according to your logic).

oldvet
Jan 12, 2010 at 5:45 a.m.
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LiquiPur is to blame along with the City Of Janesville for paying them a "bribe" of $100,000. in taxpayer money. Bribes are never a good idea

lakennedy
Jan 12, 2010 at 5:25 a.m.
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Although I don't have access to all of the information, from what I have read, it seems to me that LiquiPur brought this on themselves...

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