Agenda Packets - 2005/08/22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council July 11, 2005 Regular Meeting Page 12 any company. 1 2 Duane McCarty, 8060 Long Lake Road, stated that the process is actually going fast noting that 3 Ramsey County is already out there digging holes. He suggested that the City take a breather and 4 take some time to try and find some common ground. He asked that the Council wait for the 5 petition before taking any further action noting that it could possibly delay the project for a year 6 or more. He stated that he is trying to get his mind wrapped around the details of the contract 7 agreement and referenced the $8.6 million stating that it is his understanding that the Legislation 8 requires the City to kick in approximately $1 million, which in his mind brings the overall total 9 to $9.6 million, yet Medtronic is only paying a park dedication fee of $865,000. He noted that 10 currently there is noting coming in for the fixed assets adding that the City could possibly 11 consider moving the clubhouse to another location in the City. He noted that he is at a loss as to 12 where they would be able to relocate the clubhouse or how they would move it adding that a 13 mover would probably tell them that it couldn’t be done on a slab. He reviewed all of the golf 14 club assets including the out buildings, the irrigation systems, and the lighting noting that the list 15 goes on. He expressed concerns that the bottom line shows a gain of $4.6 million for 72.2 prime 16 acres noting that the location is right at the top of the list for development possibilities. He stated 17 that this project is crying out for citizen involvement noting that he was not sure if the Council 18 would have the ability to back away from the agreement at this point. He stated that it seems as 19 if the tail has been wagging the dog for a long time and is concerned that this is only going to get 20 worse, much worse, if the petition is successful. He asked Council to consider delaying action on 21 this issue until the petition process has been completed. 22 23 David Jahnke, 8428 Eastwood Road, stated that he hopes and prays that the City Council does 24 not back off from the Medtronic decision. He stated that the golf course has cost the City too 25 much money and is in need of repairs. He stated that he can’t believe that anyone would want to 26 keep something that is costing the City money. He stated that it is his understanding that the City 27 Council has received all of the facts and figures needed to make their decision adding that 28 Medtronic would bring jobs to the community and State during a time when many companies are 29 leaving the State. He stated that he cannot understand why people believe that this is a bad deal 30 for the City of Mounds View when no other development would come in here and get the same 31 kinds of concessions from the State. 32 33 William Werner, 2765 Sherwood Road, stated that he has been holding off on making any 34 statements for a long time adding that he would like to clarify the financial shape of Mounds 35 View. He indicated that in the last two years taxes have increased by over 20-percent and asked 36 why the City keeps increasing the taxes it only shows that the City needs money. He indicated 37 that there is a $4 million debt for the golf course over the last ten years and expressed concerns 38 that the golf course has never broken even and has also had to borrow money. He stated that the 39 street fund has been spent down, which in turn leaves no money for the necessary repairs. He 40 noted that past City Councils have hired poor golf managers in the past noting that faulty 41 construction at the golf course led the City to a lawsuit that cost the City $300,000 for a $150,000 42 settlement. He stated that the City taxpayers were advised to approve $3.3 million for a new 43 community center that was promised would make money for the City noting that losing money is 44 ok, no other community center makes money either. He explained that he is dredging up the past 45