The hidden Ballard King feasibility study on the proposed YMCA athletics center answers many questions. Did you know 13 percent or 903 residents work out in workout clubs regularly? The fitness center has about 35 memberships. 5.1 percent or 345 residents play soccer regularly. That’s about 31 teams; are you on one?
It also tells us the largest facility this area could possibly support would be 32,500 square feet. Yet the steering committee hosted by commissioners Hakes and Sobanja and composed of business people were allowed to waste $368,604.79 on pipedream plans of a conference facility one-third larger than we could afford to operate that would never get built in an attempt to fulfill personal agendas they could not afford. Someone should be responsible to pay these tax dollars back. Perhaps Rep. David Dill could explain and assist.
Any good consultant or architect will advise not to spend unnecessary money until a building site is confirmed. Yet currently we have paid almost $500,000 to ORB Management and their associates without a building site confirmed. Due to the $500,000 paid for poor advice the project will be downsized costing more tax dollars without a site confirmed.
Where is the accountability? None of these business people would spend $500,000 of their own money without one dollar going toward their business. Five commissioners are responsible for wasting $500,000 and losing the infrastructure that money could have funded.
When you see those pretty ORB Management vehicles around town, just imagine the word “suckers,” because we bought all those and more and we still do not have a building site! Go team go!
When the county owns property at the current community center, it appears we will pay the school for the west wing and remodel it to use at their will as the monies paid will expand the school. A new athletic addition and shop expansion on a failing school students are leaving. The cost of the west wing should be $1; that’s reality.
Tod Sylvester
Grand Marais
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