One of the evolving justifications for the community center construct was to leave a legacy for “future generations to remember us by.” That legacy is assured as each year’s increasing tax bill will be a reminder as to “whY.”
But it’s been a parade of whys right from the start. What better beginning to a legacy than the attempted collaborative mashing of existing community roughage into diamond—whether they wanted it or not? Then all the consensus schmoozing through patronage to each and every special interest. And all those administrative blunders one after the next that defied common sense?
Synergistic majesty cannot evolve from the chronically hemorrhaging costs of wayward design-as-you-go fickleness. Nor from courtroom drama to fix those squishy contracts signed just in time to outrun new electees on the board. Wouldn’t want ripples in what is turning into a reflecting pool only.
But that is the way of pipe dreams and unicorn wrangling. Seduce everyone with glitz and promises, and then toss them overboard after the contracts have been signed. Ball fields, walking track, community grand room, diving/therapy/lap pool, commercial kitchen, and indoor tennis. All just fog of past hot air.
On the sidelines a lot of broken eggshells, left muttering to themselves over what ultimately is going to amount to a rather austere omelet.
What to call it? No matter how the spin is steered, for the 99 percent of us tasked to pay for the spectacle, it’s forever destined to be called the “whY.”
Vilnis Neilands
Grand Marais
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