I thought the News-Herald article City council votes to pursue swimming pool litigation was about the city’s problem with Burbach Aquatic Inc. The resolution passed on May 9, 2012 is titled: A Resolution Authorizing Legal Council To File An Action For Declaratory Judgment Against Burbach Aquatics, Inc. Most of us would not have guessed the resolution also “supports Cook County’s community center project” and states, “It is the policy of the city that it desires to support the Cook County community center’s future operations and maintenance…in an annual amount not to exceed” $156,000.
Was it an accident that this particular resolution action was not put on the published agenda? Who crafted this little bait and switch? Something of such significance should have been very public. Nobody would have blinked if only the litigation issue was addressed. The support of the community center plan and a pledge to throw city money into community center deficits is a matter the public needed to be part of.
Because of the city’s May 9 action, ORB is moving ahead with construction plans for this fall. Does the council know that their May 9 approval of the community center was the go-ahead for the project and that $156,000 per year just happens to be exactly what the steering committee has said was needed?
And who is the council speaking for? The city has held no public meetings and has not participated in community center planning. Given the Burbach situation, it is likely that the city will be too late to be part of any planning. With the city approval, the county has already moved forward into the design phase with expensive architects. Approvals by county and school board, bids, contracts and construction will follow. Tell your councilors that this is not acceptable so that they will not blunder similarly into binding contracts.
Our thanks to Mayor Larry Carlson for having the intelligence and good sense to be the only vote against the resolution.
Molly and Ken Hoffman
Grand Marais
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