Five years ago I wrote the taxpayers would be better off to give the EDA’s profitless high end golf course to Lutsen, its wealthy 1 percent, back to Mr. Nelson, or sell it to the highest bidder because it will always bleed tax dollars needed in other areas. Nothing changed.
Voters tried to change the mix but both new commissioners Doo-Kirk and Gamble joined Commissioner Martinson in approving $4.2 million in improvements without knowing where all the money will come from other than our deep pockets. In the conversation is the next round of funding including a clubhouse project originally slated for this round of spending until Scott Harrison, owner of Lutsen Resort, was put on EDA.
Along with this announcement came the grand news that as taxpayers dump their tax dollars at Superior National at Lutsen the surrounding businesses will expand along with their wealth. This combination supports povertylevel jobs, foreign workers and higher property taxes. And 67 percent of votes cast in the 2009 1 percent tax referendum voted yes to this, which as we brag of our high number of college degrees in the county begs the debate of educated idiots!
In shaping your news, opinions, and pushing the agenda of the wealthy 1 percent they failed to let our eyes or ears hear statements from Sen. Tom Bakk. While I missed the business luncheon I’m told he mentioned the West End lobbyist, evidently they have one. Biomass? Not cost effective, a thing of the past.
In fact across America high-end golf courses have made the mistake of listening to golf consultants and business people who profit off golf and sunk millions into their facilities expecting to see a rise in revenue only to find losses of 30-55 percent. These are facts everyone at the table knows.
Evidently this is what the majority of citizens want as they fail to speak up, leaving our community in a downward spin. Unless you get paid by tax dollars with bennies and insurance, why would you care about anyone else? Don’t rock the boat!
Tod Sylvester
Grand Marais
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