Community doesn’t need high-end luxury amenities

I have a pool membership. The new community center plan calls for a 140 percent increase in user fees, calculated according to the information on page A7 of the June 9, 2012 News-Herald. The estimated membership for a single person is $40 per month, times 12 months. That is $480. I currently pay $200 annually.

So I asked an elected official how this is best for pool users? I pointed out that $1 Fridays were the busiest night of the week when the pool is filled with these young families we keep hearing about who are pro-community center. They only come on $1 Fridays because they can’t afford current prices.

That special is over for summer, now the pool’s a ghost town until the campground fills except for log rolling. I pointed out that $1 Fridays and free log rolling will be done when the YMCA comes to town. Last December they had to run a 50-percent-off deal to sell memberships. I pointed out these are three current amenities, a new pool will be the same size, same amount of employees – rebuild it in the Rec Park and keep the current prices.

I was told it’s not about what’s best for pool users or taxpayers; it’s what’s best for the community. They laughed in my face, turned and walked away. That’s when all my suspicions became reality.

This facility is much like Superior National golf course in Lutsen, a highend luxury item for the wealthy. They stacked the steering committee with business people and county employees. They never wanted a regular citizen from any voter district and never cared about citizen concerns. They never cared about operating cost, profits or losses. They don’t care if we can afford to use it, they will levy our property taxes to operate it because it’s best for tourism.

It’s all about choices. The county board, city council, steering committee and school board have united to misinform us time after time and don’t care if pool users can afford a 140 percent increase in fees.

I choose to boycott these people, the project and their businesses. If it takes public rallies and picketing their businesses and homes to bring common sense to the project then I support that too.

Tod Sylvester
Grand Marais