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Mounds View City Council March 26, 2001 <br />Regular Meeting Page 5 <br /> <br /> <br />Mr. Linke stated he had gotten the information he was quoting right out of the Data Practices <br />Act. <br /> <br />David Jahnke of 8428 Eastwood Road thanked the Mayor for the answer on the attorney’s fees <br />for the golf course issue. He then asked if the YMCA had approached the City to take over the <br />Children’s Home Society lease. <br /> <br />City Administrator Miller explained that on March 12, 2001 she received a phone call from the <br />attorney for the Children’s Home Society who said they had been in preliminary discussions with <br />the YMCA about the possibility. <br /> <br />Mr. Jahnke expressed his concern that entities entering leases with the City seem to be able to <br />walk away from their contracts seemingly without penalty. He then questioned whether the City <br />Attorney reviews the contracts before they are entered into. <br /> <br />Mr. Jahnke noted he was pleased that it appears the City will be able to go ahead with the <br />billboards out at the golf course to help pay for the course. He then stated he hoped Council did <br />not go getting into debt for another nine holes before paying off the nine it owes on already. He <br />went on to state that he had read an article written by a national golf expert who said the <br />consultant made a serious mistake not to consider Blaine’s golf course when doing the study. <br /> <br />Council Member Stigney commented he had read that article and it was a question he intended to <br />ask Springsted about. He then commented that if the City gets the billboards there should not be <br />a need for another nine holes to pay for the course. <br /> <br />Mayor Sonterre clarified it would have been hard for Springsted to consider the Blaine course as <br />it was not under construction at the time and, to his knowledge, there is not even a funding <br />source for the golf course at this time. He then noted that if the national expert thought the <br />course was under construction he would be right but there is currently no construction and no <br />approved funding for the course. <br /> <br />City Administrator Miller commented the City Attorney had reviewed the Children’s Home <br />Society lease and there is a buyout clause in the lease. She then noted the City is working with <br />Children’s Home Society to sublease the facility. <br /> <br />Rhonda Smieja of 5298 St. Stephen Street stated she feels it is important to have a child care <br />center in Mounds View. She stated the City spent money to develop the facility and she would <br />like to have her tax dollars to go to fund a child care facility. She further stated she would <br />appreciate it if the City made every effort to put a child care center back in the building. <br /> <br />Brad Jahnke of 8408 Eastwood Road read a statement indicating he felt the formula for funding <br />the golf course was flawed and a government entity is never as good at private business as a <br />private company. He stated he thinks creative financing should be used to improve City <br />infrastructure rather than for business ventures that cost taxpayers money. He stated he feels