11-05-1979 Park Board Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 2 Park Board November 5, 1979 �-� have these funds, it was usually advantageous for them to go to the state for match- ing funds (LAWCON or state legislative funds) . If the present fund of $60,000 was spent, it would take five years to build up again to provide that type of facility elsewhere. Sauk Rapids had passed a $200,000 bond issue four years ago, and had been living off that ever since; he felt that this had been an aid in their applica- tions, in showing the community was interested in the development of narks. The state liked to see municipalities using their own money to participate in these programs as much as possible, for instance, at a 50 percent or 35 percent match, depending on what type of application it was. Saying that parks would be budgeted next year at $20,000 for the city's part of the match was less effective in a grant application than if the money was on hend in some type of fund that's been created for the development of parks. The state liked to see the Park Board provide the funds or have them on hand prior to the submittal of the application. He felt the Park Board should not deplete their entire fund on one project, leaving nothing for the future. Mrs. Liljedahl briefly reviewed the present status of the four-season building for Mr. Schumaker, indicating that the Park Board wanted to go ahead with it this year. It was felt that the project had been discussed for many years , and had been constantly delayed; after all the work that had been done on it, it should be pursued. There had been many requests from different organizations--Scouts , 4-H, senior citizens-- for some type of community center or place to meet. The school was completely booked up, and these organizations had no other place to meet other than in private homes. It was felt it should be shown that the money being put into the park fund was going to work for the parks and do something for the community. The Park Board had considered the costs involved with waiting, which would be much higher than if the building had been done when it should have. It was indicated the cost figure was about $35,000 just to rough it in. Mrs. Liljedahl indicated they would like an answer from the Council as to whether they could proceed at this point or not. .Mr. Schumaker felt there were several reasons why the Park Board should wait until spring on the building, the first being that the overall costs of construction during the winter were much higher. Secondly, if the $60,000 were invested over the next four or five months at the high interest rates , this would be a good hedge against inflation. Thirdly, it would give him some extra time to work with the state, and to see exactly what the status of the rural town center was. He had talked to one individual who had siad he wasn't aware of any legal opinion as far as what the criteria was for a rural town center. Hopefully Lino Lakes could get classified out of this category. Also, it would give him more time to become familiar with the project. Mr. Foster felt that if the building were delayed until spring, then real- istically there wouldn't be any reason to start it until the following fall , the reason being that the upper level wouldn't be completed, and the lower level being primarily a warming house. He noted that construction costs had gone up about 25 percent last year, which was more than the income, or moneys coming in. Mr. Schumaker asked if there were any plans for park development in the planned urban service areas; the Park Board indicated that Country Lakes and Shenendoah were both in that area. Mrs. Liljedahl indicated that Country Lakes was a big project and would require funding, but that when she had spoken to Phyllis Hanson, she had said this would not be eligible for funding, despite the sewer and water service there. Mr. Foster brought up the idea that had been used with Sunset Oaks, where the Park Board took less land in certain areas and in turn the developer put in the facilities. This way, the developer ^ would have something to offer the residents as they came in. He felt that if the Park Board continued to take money, by the time they were ready to develop the parks, there was never enough money, but if they took land, there was no money to develop them either.