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Format Dynamics :: CleanPrint :: http: / /www.twincitios .com /ci_18423791 ?EADID= Searc... <br />TwinCities <br />County is our local partner," Bagley said. "What's <br />difficult in resolving stadium issues is providing <br />leadership, and Ramsey County stepped up to <br />provide leadership." <br />Meanwhile, Coleman's letter prompted Shoreview <br />City Council members to take action. <br />Following St. Paul's lead, Arden Hills eastern <br />neighbor plans to vote on an anti -tax resolution <br />during a special meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, said <br />Blake Huffman, a Shoreview council member. <br />Huffman said he expects it will be supported by the <br />majority of council members. <br />Huffman, who recently circulated a petition against <br />the Arden Hills stadium proposal, said Shoreview <br />sent a letter in February to Ramsey County officials <br />detailing concerns about the impact a stadium could <br />have on area traffic, noise, roads and crime. The <br />resolution is a natural next step, Huffman said. <br />"It will address the fiscal side of things," he said. <br />Other north metro cities are still deciding how to <br />react to St. Paul's request, including Vadnais <br />Heights, New Brighton and Roseville. <br />Tammy McGehee, a council member in Roseville, <br />said the issue was not on the agenda for the city's <br />next council meeting, but she said that could <br />change. She added that she intends to at least bring <br />it up for discussion among council members. <br />"Whether (Arden Hills) is the best location for this <br />venue, I have my doubts, and certainly I have my <br />doubts on a half -cent sales tax on the residents of <br />Ramsey County to fund something that people from <br />Wisconsin and North and South Dakota would <br />participate in," she said. <br />New Brighton Mayor Dave Jacobsen said he also <br />planned to discuss the sale tax with council <br />members, but didn't know when. <br />Jacobsen said he would like to see the stadium move <br />next door to his city. <br />"If you look at the economic gain and what it will do <br />for improvement to the north metro area, it far <br />outweighs the cost of a ... tax," Jacobsen said. <br />Even though he is not a fan of taxes, Jacobsen said, <br />a sales tax is slightly different because it applies to <br />consumables and can be avoided by shopping <br />outside the county. <br />Page 2oF3 <br />Arden Hills Mayor David Grant said the home city of <br />the proposed stadium would not be taking up any <br />resolution. <br />"I think the stadium is the right thing to do; I think <br />the county has an acceptable funding mechanism <br />and it should go forward and I guess 1 will leave it <br />at that," Grant said. <br />Using the sales tax to cover the county's <br />contribution, two Ramsey County commissioners are <br />negotiating a deal with the Vikings and key <br />lawmakers to build the $1.1 billion stadium in <br />Arden Hills with $350 million in county funds and <br />$300 million in state funds. The Vikings would <br />contribute at least $407 million, though a major <br />sticking point with the governor's office is who <br />would pay for at least $131 million in road <br />improvements near Interstate 35W and U.S. 10. <br />Proponents consider the wide -open space of the <br />Arden Hills location an ideal spot for tailgating <br />parties, with ample space for parking, sports - related <br />commercial development and a 65,000 -seat football <br />arena to replace the 30- year -old Metrodome in <br />downtown Minneapolis. <br />The Arden Hills location, currently the largest <br />polluted federal Superfund site in the state, was <br />once used as an Army munitions plant and now sits <br />contaminated and undeveloped. The Vikings would <br />occupy 430 of the site's 2,370 acres. <br />Print Powered By <br />http: / /www.twincities .com /tdcp ?unique = 13 10 13449 13 19 <br />5 <br />7/8/2011 <br />