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Mounds View City Council April 12, 2004 Regular Meeting Page 6 its current location providing numerous outreach programs to assist adults and kids and they will 1 do that in Mounds View. 2 3 Ms. Richter indicated that she feels the long term social impact will improve the financial picture 4 as well. 5 6 John Copas from Abbey Carpet indicated he spoke with Dan from the Mermaid and the 7 Boyscouts and Three Season Porch and they are all in favor of having the Church approved. He 8 then said he has to agree with Ms. Richter because he is very involved with North Heights 9 Lutheran and St. Andrew Lutheran Church and he sees all the benefits the churches can give. He 10 further commented that he has an employee who goes to Bethlehem and they have wonderful 11 programs that are more important to the community than the money value. 12 13 Mr. Lawson from the Baptist Conference provided information on the Church and said he feels 14 this Church could really benefit the Community with its outreach programs and donations to 15 various community organizations. 16 17 Mr. Lawson said that in the bigger picture of government churches have been a tax free facility 18 use and that has been a privilege of religious organizations but they have no intention of 19 muscling in on that and are willing to pay for services but, there is a purpose and it is because the 20 church creates a positive impact to those communities that they are in. 21 22 Kenny Stokes, Pastor at Bethlehem Baptist asked Council to consider the broader good that the 23 Church can do for the community and not merely the economic good. 24 25 Mr. Stokes said that he feels that the proposal to establish a second congregation in Mounds 26 View would benefit the community spiritually and socially. He then said that Mounds View is 27 under serviced as far as churches go because Ramsey County has one church for every 980 28 persons and Mounds View has 50% fewer churches. 29 30 Mr. Stokes commented that the social benefit and spiritual benefits should outweigh the 31 economic considerations. He then reminded Council that the anniversary of Columbine is 32 coming up and Columbine was an affluent community. He further commented that the Church 33 actively seeks ways to assist people in the community they are in and would do that in this 34 community. 35 36 Paul Settman commented that the strength of a City is its moral fabric and bringing this Church 37 to the City would improve its moral fabric. He then said that Bethlehem is a church that is 38 involved with its community and it actively seeks to find ways to help. 39 40 Mr. Settman indicated he was told one of the policeman went to the middle school on a parent 41 teacher get together to show things that are found in school. He then said that the parents were 42 shocked but it is a fact of life whether you are in the city or the suburbs. He further commented 43 that he strongly supports Bethlehem coming to Mounds View and he believes that the Church 44 can help the City and the schools deal with the issues facing them. 45