It is important that the citizens of Cook County and just as importantly the commissioners remember that any debate over whether or not to build a new Community Center was decided in the passing of the 1% referendum in November of 2009. At that time 65% of the citizens of this great county voted in favor of the 1% tax, with one of the projects being a new community center.
It is also important to point out that there was a majority vote on the 1% tax in every commissioner’s individual district. In a democracy the majority rules.
After the 1% tax referendum passed in 2009, the county commissioners set a price tag of $8-12 million on the new community center. A well-rounded steering committee of the county’s peers was formed and through several thousand man-hours of research and dialogue a plan was formalized that would provide the community with a great facility, in a central location within the county, for all county citizens and visitors to use to further enrich their physical, mental, and social lives.
To discuss and debate the location of the building within Grand Marais or the amenities within it are certainly warranted. However, the discussion to build a community center within the price parameters that the commissioners have set should not be up for debate. Again, the decision to build the community center was decided in 2009 and voted in favor by the people via the referendum.
This community center will be a foundation in which we can grow and enhance our core community values that already make this a great place to live. The people have spoken through the referendum that a new community center is something that they want. The commissioners are obligated to follow through with the desires of the majority and build it.
Paul Sporn
Cook County Resident
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