First—this is not just a warming house. Second, this was a multigroup effort, not just from the hockey association.
I have been involved with the revitalization of the existing community center property for seven years. The hockey association received a hefty private donation to upgrade our current skating rink in 2005. The county board told us to work with Diane Booth on a plan for the property. Diane did not want to see “things plopped all over,” so a “Revitalization Committee” was formed. Two years and many public meetings were spent putting together ideas and wishes from all user groups within the county. We received a beautiful plan created by C.J. Hernandez of Center for Changing Landscapes and thought we were on our way.
But wait… the pool felt left out despite having had two years when they could have participated.
But wait… a 1% sales tax for recreation improvements within the county passes. Yeah! But wait… now the county board needs to decide how these funds will be spent.
Wait again…we can’t go by recommendations by the steering committee because there is too much public outcry and we don’t like your proposal.
Wait again because we’re waiting for the city to get out of its legal woes and hopefully help us support an $11 million dollar community center.
You must wait because we haven’t seen a new proposal for a new skating rink and facility. Yes, we will give you $5,000 to develop a proposal for a shared, year-round, common space. But make sure you include all the groups (tennis, skating, hockey, baseball, curling, Little League etc.) so no group feels left out of the process of creating this recreation building. Finish the proposal and present it to the county board.
The hockey association offered $25,000 to the “cause” but we’re told to keep our money. Then we are asked to seek money from the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation to help defer costs of building. We are then told sorry, it’s too expensive by Commissioner Hakes.
We are not duplicating a structure similar to the proposed $11 million community center which will be located so far away from all the activity it does not accommodate any of the groups listed above.
Sorry if I have given you a headache—I have had one for seven years. Please call your commissioner and support this minor community project. That property is an embarrassment to the area and for a small amount of money “We the People” can have a nice attractive useful structure we all can be proud of for the next 50 years. Who says we can’t do both projects? We will be collecting monies for 20 years.
This way we can eat our popcorn and hot dogs at the small concession stand watching the kids play ball or skate while we wait for the big White Elephant to be built and have our taxes raised.
Gail Anderson
Grand Marais
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