The county commissioners are poised to impose upon us, at taxpayers’ expense, an $11,000,000 “community center.” Some of the facilities to be provided will duplicate and/or compete with existing private businesses and accommodations. Its construction will destroy recently built tennis courts, skateboard park and playground.
There is a community center in Grand Portage that is lightly utilized and not self-sufficient. We find it highly improbable the new community center would be used by people living in Grand Portage.
Nor is it likely the 10.1% of the county residents now living below the poverty line will use it. This reduces the potential number of community center users by over 20% of the county population. Furthermore, it is unlikely that it will be used much by those living outside of Grand Marais.
Whether or not the commissioners or their contractors considered these issues when they developed the current use estimate (395 memberships = 7.63% of the total county population) is unknown. Moreover, we suspect the membership estimate was based, in part, on minimal user fees.
Thus, the estimated annual operation and maintenance costs exceed projected revenues by $325,000, a figure almost certainly grossly low. Tourists will not provide significant income for the center because they do not come to the North Shore for indoor activities. As a result, further pressure will be created for ever increasing taxation.
A final point that must be considered is that the existing swimming pool and community center are in disrepair presumably because their maintenance was too expensive, or of low priority given other county needs. Since the past is but prologue, the same will occur with the new facility.
Given the figures provided at the May 10th meeting, no businessman in his right mind would risk his own money on such a project because he would have to charge nearly $1,000 per customer/“member“ to break even.
However, it will be established so the few who want it can enjoy its amenities at the expense of others. Your county government at work!
Nevin D. Holmberg
Carol R. Holmberg
Hovland
Leave a Reply