One is never to speak or write when they are angry. Well I am breaking that rule. I am incredibly frustrated by portions of the discussion from today’s goal setting session.
The positive was that the five major goals from 2007 are coming along quite well. All the work we are doing on business development and creating a great environment for economic growth is moving along wonderfully.
My frustration is that the Council seems to have moved back to the idea that the City must keep everyone entertained at tax payer expense from the time they wake until the time they sleep. Comments were made that the City does not do anything for kids and there is nothing to do here.....hmmm so the numerous parks and trails, basketball courts, tennis courts, BMX track, soccer fields, outdoor and indoor hockey rinks, pleasure ice rink, baseball fields, river landing and Skateboard Park apparently are figments of our collective imaginations. Then the bowling alley and gymnastic center must not exist either.
So what does this really mean? Well apparently they want an enhanced community center with a pool and room for other fun activities. This sounds great to me too except for the price tag and the ongoing cost of operating such a facility. Last year I was part of a group that talked to representatives of the YMCA and got a rough figure in the $7,000,000 range for a small stripped down facility. The membership they would need for the facility was larger than the total population of our city.
So OK let’s do our own.....well with a pool again makes this a multi-million dollar project with ongoing funding from the city. This type of project in a time when all cities are dealing with the fallout of the housing crisis, lower tax revenue, less state aid and higher health care and employee cost is the definition of frivolity.
I have been working hand in hand with our business community to bring in more commercial growth to increase our tax base but some want to spend it before we get it.
I would love to have as many great options for our Citizens as the next person. I am however not willing to raise taxes the 20% to 50% or double city debt to fund these projects. Such tax hikes and added debt will cripple our business growth and wipe out our great gains from 2007.
The liquor store still has been moving forward by a 3-2 vote, this will strip out $250,000 in cash reserves, which should be used to ride out the economic storm we are experiencing, and bring less money per year to the general fund. If a City funded library, community center and pool are added to this list in the next year or two Isanti will simply crumble under the weight of the millions of dollars of debt.
I want a library and we are often compared to what the cities in Chisago County did. This is not a fair comparison since the Chisago County government footed the major cost of these great projects. Not the case in Isanti. The City tax payers carrying the full cost of a regional facility is a hard argument to make.
Something happens to some people after they get into office that makes them think the money we spend is plucked from a dollar tree in the back yard. I know I sound like a broken record when I constantly state we need to concentrate on building our commercial tax base to keep taxes low and allow us to provide greater services to our Citizens. We sometimes do not do well with delayed gratification but we must remain fiscally disciplined.
I would love to be able to say to my children or grandchildren one day that I was Mayor when xyz was built and have a lasting testament to my service….but my personal pride can not overrule good government. No one may remember me but if I leave a strong City tax base, a strong business community, low property taxes, a livable City, efficient City government, a safe City, and the tax base that allows future generations to build the amenities we all want I will have fulfilled the trust that over 70% of voters of Isanti have placed in me.
About Me
- George
- I have served the City of Isanti as Mayor since 2007. We have accomplished great things together and I look forward to building on our success. United, we move forward to a better future. You may contact me at 763-442-8749 or e-mail me at george@georgewimmer.com.
39 comments:
I am close to losing my house and can not afford more taxes!!! Please don't run me out of town.
my kids use almost everything you listed. why would anyone say there is nothing to do. its to bad you do not have more help. we get it and support you.
I want to be able to walk to Riverside safely. I live to the south and have to walk over mounds of snow or in the road. How about building sidewalks on 5 inside of millions on a pool I would never use. Think about keeping us safe.
It must be nice for the council to give away my money. If the city builds a pool or gym does that not compete with private business. I like coffee every morning, will the council build a city coffee house so I can get cheap or free coffee?
Mike, they are not just trying to give your money away, they are trying to give away money you don't have.
As I said to George, I didn't realize it was the city's job to entertain me. I though it was their job to provide for a safe livable city. You know with things like police and fire. Snow removal. Sidewalks to make certain streets save to travel. How about better bus service for the kids.
Do they not pay attention to what id going on with recession on the doorstep and a crumbling housing market. Now not the time to spend.
all they did brian was spend spend spend until george got there. we have to get him some help and soon or he will leave and we will all lose.
Hi,
I'm just curious as to what set you off. Can you repeat the exact statement that was made that is the locus of your frustration with the Council?
It is nice to hear the term locus used so well. There were many statements that lead to a frustrating meeting.
"anonymous" I could give you a thousand things over the years the council has said that has mad me mad as hell. You should attend some of the meetings to see the insanity first hand.
Wow, I didn't think I was in the minority when I wanted to know more about what a community center/aquatic center would cost. My kids utilize the outdoor parks in the city also, but how much activity have you seen in Riverside Park, Bluebird Park, and at the skate park since Novmeber?? Not much. Isanti offers a great deal of outdoor activities to use 7 months out of the year when the weather cooperates.
I'd be happy to find out how much it would cost the tax payers of our city to be able to have an indoor aquatic/activity center and library. Right now I have heard numbers that cover an incredibly broad range, and I have no idea what they are based on. I'd love to see our council or some focus group actually research a facility that would benifit the community and then present what the actual cost would be. If it's too much, then don't build it. If it isn't too much, then go for it. The bottom line is that right now, I don't know if anybody has enough information to say "Yes" or "No".
I'm also not sure how an aquatic center/community center/library would compete with private business. I have not seen many other private pool groups trying to come into Isanti, or private library businesses.
Well "Jeff" we have quite a bit of information. The example that is repeatedly used is the Becker Community Center which was raised again at the goal session. Becker has a $16,000,000 tax base and Isanti has a $3,500,000 tax base. Their facility cost $4,000,000 in 1994. With dollar value adjusted to todays construction dollars that is $7,462,000. the Becker facility also loses $430,000 a year which the city of Becker covers. $430,000 is equal to a 13% tax hike in Isanti. This is of course not even including the cost of actually building the facility.
I and I think most people would love to have a new Community Center and Pool but the cost is to high. The problem of lets just do some research is fine except this almost invariably leads to funding a 20k plus study to prove what in this case we should all already know.
This is how over 100k has been spent on a liquor store project that should not be built. but a 3-2 vote of the council continues to move this project along. By the way they are asking for over 10k more to "just get more information" to make a final decision.
My main frustration is the idea that we have nothing here as was stated in the meeting and that it is the city's responsibility to entertain everyone all the time.
The competetion with business may not be a pool although some of the hotel groups we are talking to are looking to include a pool that can be used for a small fee each day, but with a gym or other activites.
I guess Anytime Fitness is out of luck....
First let me clear up something regarding your main frustration, George. My position in no way is that "Isanti is required to entertain its citizens all day," that's simply ludicrous. However, the comparison between that statement and wanting to know more about a potential community center, and the associated costs with that community center, is light years apart.
The frustration I have is that there are many HUGE numbers being thrown around here. $16 million tax base for Becker, $7-10 million for an Isanti facility, 13% tax hike to cover a $430,000 loss at the facility. Can we translate that to actual dollars per household? What would that 13% tax hike cost an average family in Isanti? I just checked my 2007 property tax information, and that would equate to $130 for the year. If that's the cost to the tax payer, SIGN ME UP!! But what other costs are there? I don't know, that's why I'd like to see more research, without a $20,000 study completed by some consulting group. I think our City Staff is up to the challenge of looking into something like this, without hiring a consultant.
I have never been to the Becker facility to know what all is included, but I would picture an Isanti facility with an aquatic center, open gym-type basketball courts, and possibly library space. I don't know that it necessary needs free weights and aerobic exercise equipment, so to pull Anytime Fitness into this seems a bit over the top.
The sooner that emotion can be taken out of this discussion, the better.
Jeff the logic you just used about hey only $130 dollars sign me up is used for every tax hike.
The many activities facilities I have previously mentioned were paid for from Park and Recreation fees paid by developers, which by state statute can only be used for Parks and recreation activites. We have leveraged these dollars to draw in tens of thousands of people each year.
Maybe $130 dollars is nothing to you but it would be a lot to many.we have numerous families in our City that can not afford higher taxes. Do not forget businesses that pay roughly 50% more than homesteaded homes. This type of thiking that a 13% tax hike does not matter can kill business growth.
The statements made at the Council Goal setting session very much used the logic that there is currently nothing to do in Isanti and we have to provide for everyone. Those were the statements made that led to the discussion on the enhanced Community Center with a Pool.
City staff do not work for free..and their time is limited. What would they be looking for that would still be accurate in 5 to 10 years? Why was this not raised during the Comp Plan process where a future rail station and high school might be located was worked on?
It was just a few short years ago that isanti had one of the highest City tax rates in the entire state of Minesota. We have cut taxes in the last three years to reduce our Tax Levy from a 73% levy to a 59% levy. The state average is 55%.
I wish we could have everything but we can not. Why a pool, why not an archery range or an indoor paintball facility or this or that...
I believe we do have research for a library and a volunter group that is working hard for this project and raising money and working at all levels of government. This might be the better option to start with. Make the case before we spend the dollars.
Jeff if you think it is ok to jack-up taxes by 13 percent then will you pay mine as well? This is crazy.
How can anyone think we do not pay enough taxes. Houses are being foreclosed on left and right. Who has all this extra money?
I agree we pay plenty in property taxes. However, I think larger projects like this need to be looked at on an incremental basis. Would a community center/aquatic center/library be worth $130 per year to your family? I can answer that with a "yes" for my family.
I'm seeing the arguement raised that this is a crazy idea, due to the poor housing market right now. Would a decrease of 13% in property taxes suddently turn this market around? Would the foreclosure rate plummet? I don't think so. I doubt that very many households in Isanti would be dramatically impacted by a $10.84 monthly change in taxes, either as an increase or decrease.
Again this line of thinking is what causes high taxes. How much is to much in taxes. If 13% is not to high is 20%...30%.....
We have not even discussed the hidden taxes of increasing valuations our residents have been dealing with. One of my neighbors down the road had their taxes increase by 73.7% due to valuation change in one year. Is this to high?
The sad truth is our residents have had their valuations sky rocket which only matters if you want andcan sell your home.
Your tax increase would have a terrible affect on home owners and an even larger impact on businesses.
Property taxes are a regressive tax. We all pay the same rate no matter how rich or poor you may be. The less fortunate suffer tremendously with high tax rates.
When I was growing up we were very poor. I understand the value of an extra few dollars.
You have tried to turn the arguement against a 13% tax decrease....remember the 13% would be an increase and take current levy rates back into the 70s once again. I am not sure how you snuck in a library into your formula. That would add even more cost to the project and be an even higher tax rate by your plan.
Saying people, businesses or the City would not be harmed by a double digit tax increase is not accurate.
There is a fundamental difference in philosophy. You are argueing raising taxes does not hurt anyone and has a great positive impact on a community.
I could not disagree more. Government needs to levy taxes for essential city services. This is a sacred trust to me.
George, we are going to have to agree to disagree. My words here are being twisted completely out of context and we are getting nowhere. You have stated that I am "arguing raising taxes does not hurt anyone and has a great positive impact on a community" and that I am "saying people, businesses or the City would not be harmed by a double digit tax increase". In my very first comment on this topic my main point was the following:
"I'd love to see our council or some focus group actually research a facility that would benefit the community and then present what the actual cost would be. If it's too much, then don't build it. If it isn't too much, then go for it."
The whole idea of the community center is being brushed off as completely inconceivable in Isanti, with 7-digit numbers being used to describe the costs to the city, and double digit tax increases thrown around. I wanted to make the point that the 13% tax increase discussed here actually comes out to about $130 per year for a household in Isanti. Again, I'd just like to see a committee form to review this idea to see if there would be any traction or not, as I stated in the very beginning.
The arguments I have been presented with here are that it would compete with local or potential local businesses, that the housing market is too poor right now and there are already too many foreclosures, that I snuck a library into the equation, that $130 is nothing to me, and that housing valuations are already increasing too high. Let's address these one at a time.
-"Competing with private business." I've already discussed this above, only the possibility of an exercise center would compete with any local business and we don't even know what the community center would contain.
-"housing market and foreclosures". My point here was that I didn't think $10/month on its own would be driving anyone to foreclosure.
-"Snuck in the library." It was in all three prior comments I made.
-"$130 is nothing to me." I also grew up poor, worked to support my spending habits through high school, and worked a part time job all through college, paying entirely for my own education. I also understand the value of a dollar. In part, that is exactly why $130 over a year's time is worth it to me for a community/aquatic/library center. Where else could you have access to this type of facility at that price? Want to join the Metro YMCA, that would cost a family $103 per month. Want to join Lifetime Fitness, that would cost a family $125 per month. Value of a dollar, period.
-"Hidden taxes of increasing valuations". Where on earth did this come from, and what does it have to do with the viability of a community center in Isanti? Seriously! The city has no control over how the county decides the valuation of the properties, correct? So this has no business being related to this topic.
It's obvious that you don't support further exploration of this topic, and I do. So let's leave it at that. Thank you for providing an open forum for these discussions.
This is all great debate on this issue. These are the comments and input we need from the community. We will be forming a committee at Tuesdays meeting to look into this issue. Please get involved with this committee so we can get the true facts out in the open and make an educated decision on this issue- one way or another.
To CM Kolb I hope you are not saying that the facts I have presented here are not the true facts.....
Well Jeff again we go over and over the same issues again..and yes we will have to agree to disagree. I have already addressed most of what you have said and everyone can see what has been written.
The only factual correction is the comparision you made on joining a Y or other such facility. You use only the City subsidy portion of the Becker example. The $430k needs to be added to the fee for service portion of $520k to get to the true cost of the facility operation. The City subsidy comes after the cost to join. A family yearly membership is $303.53 if you are a Becker resident per year...so with your example it is $433.53...better than a Y but still not free.....and again this does not include the $7,462,000, again with the Becker example, in construction cost. To bond for this amount and the normal interest and repayment schedule we are looking at a $522k in bond payments per year or another 16% tax increase. again with your example that should equate to another $160 in anual tax payer cost.
So to avoid the large numbers you do not like that is $130 subsidy, $160 bond payment and $300 membership or $590 per year for your family.
Now how much would one of our many businesses have to pony up paying $20k per year in taxes...the now 29% hike in taxes would cost the business in this example $5,800 in new taxes.
The hotel projects we have been working on would pay between $60k and 100k in taxes. Their share would be between $17,400 to $29,000 just in the 29% hike for a community center.....
I discussed the hidden tax of higher evaluations because it all affects the taxes we pay as residents. You stated a 13% tax increase would not affect very many families.
I am not sure how that is twisting your words.
I hate to be the Scrooge or Grinch everytime we have these issues come up. I wish I could tell everyone that hey we can have it all right now. The facts are the facts and I believe it is my responsibility represent them.
My dream is a Community Center/senior center/library with a pool and hot tubs. I had a disabled citizen meeting with me on the types of improvements and facilities she thought would be an asset and a draw and how she would be helped by them. I have constant talkes with the Senior group currently using the community and how difficult it is for them to pay the current subsidized fees.
I want this to work and cash flow more than you know.....but I do not think it is right to have limited resources chase after something that just can not happen for 5 to 10 years...this is one of the reasons we had a great volunteer group work on repairs to the existing center last fall.
Crazy it seems you are being hounded about worry about taxes. Keep up the hard work.
"Illegitimi non carborundum"
To George- no what I am saying is that there are a lot of numbers being thrown around here. Lets all be very cautious and not make this a more confusing and difficult process before we have started. Those who have anonymous comments please get in touch with George or the city to get more involved in this.
A number have contacted me and I have let them know that CM Kolb and Johnson have requested to work on this project. All council member contacts are on the city website at CityofIsanti.us
I think there are some good ideas here on both sides. If George's numbers are even close this thing is way off into the future if it ever happens.
Kepp up the great work George.
Just amazed by how much work George puts into the city. Love him or hate him and sometimes I do both you guys should take it a bit easier on him. No one should attack what he is trying to do. Did everyone forget all the crazy spending and sweet heart deals the city did. My taxes have almost forced me out of my house. I bought 20 years ago and the values and taxes have gone crazy high. I may have to live with my daughter and try to rent my house just to pay the taxes and bills. nothing is ever perfect but he has given us some hope.
Thanks for posting more information about the costs associated with the Becker facility. That is really all I have been asking for all along, more information to base the decision on.
Seems as if we have another "gang of 3" at city hall.
We already know that 2 of the 3 are EXTREMELY left leaning in there political beliefs. And it shouldn't suprise anyone that they want to take from those who can and give it to those who cannot or will not! These CM's are going to spend us into the problems Cambridge had a few years back or worse.
Why does anyone think we need an aquatic center?? I don't agree with a library either but at least a decent argument can be made on behalf of one. This liqour store "project" shouldn't even have gotten past the discussion phase, but now look, they have spent a significant chunk of money on studies and the like, that could have gone towards paying down debt or towards making the water drinkable in this city, among numerous other issues that the city faces.
How do the "gang of 3" suggest we handle the huge number of vacant houses as well as the foreclosures that are still to come? How about all of the empty slots in the strip mall behind the Isanti Mobil station or the empty strip mall over by the John Deere dealer, we all know the one.. the one that had sat completely empty for 2 years or more before a deck builder rented or leased one of the spots.
Well I have gone off track a bit here, but I think most will get the point. This city has more to worry about than expanding the liquor store, or an aquatic center, or even a library.
PLEASE LEAVE WHAT LITTLE MONEY MY FAMILY HAS ALONE! PUT WHAT YOU ALREADY TAKE FROM US TO BETTER USE OR STEP ASIDE.
Or here's an idea. What not have a private business start an aquatic center? That way the taxpayers don't have to fund it and the city gets tax dollars from the business. A win-win. Oh yeah, that's because an aquatic center in Isanti doesn't make business sense. If it did make sense, someone would have already done it. Look at Becker, George stated that its center loses $430,000/year, not including the loan payment.
Jeff (not CM Jeff), if you think that this gym/aquatic center and what-have-you is such a swell idea, then by all means, feel free to head to your banker and build the community one. But PLEASE don't even THINK about running for mayor! I was born and raised in this town and yes, I DID survive despite having "nothing to do". For those that think there's nothing to do around here NOW - boy, you should've seen it 30 years ago, THEN you'd have something to complain about! LOL I think that a big part of the problem is that a lot of people have moved into the area and have come from more of the metro communities where there are any number of things available to do. This is ISANTI, not Andover, not Coon Rapids and for sure not downtown Minneapolis and most of us LIKE it that way - that's why we live here!
Well anonymous, not to worry. I too enjoy the fact that Isanti isn't anything like downtown Minneapolis. I'm willing to bet that many of the cities you've mentioned have changed a bit over the last 30 years too. I've reread everything I said in here again, where did I say that there isn't anything to do in Isanti? I've simply asked that this idea not be swept under the rug quite so quickly. Excuse me, take a broom, and go ahead and push it right where you'd like to see it.
As far as running for mayor, don't worry about it. Its obvious that being open-minded about a possible project is not accepted in town. If anything may cost money, we should quickly strike it down. I get the idea.... don't worry. Looks like we should have the city council revote on the water treatment plant, street improvement plan, and shoot.... I really wish we could get the downtown revitalization makeover money back... then we could REALLY cut taxes.
Jeff, you can not be serious about your open minded comment. Do you honestly think that just because a project requires money that that Mayor and everyone else that opposes senseless money spending wants it shot down with no consideration?
Sidewalks where residents don't want/need them, additional city staff instead of police, cheap building permits and fees, focusing on advantages to developers. I wish I had a list in front of me for all the things I'm forgetting.
After all the the projects that have had the green light and money dumped on it, I'd rather have a Mayor and council that was cautious when it comes to spending money, unlike before where it seemed like they would just spend on anything.
I have no issue with the water treatment plant. That is a service the city SHOULD spend money on. I don't think the water should be able to kill me.(slight exaggeration at this point, but if nothing is done....)
Up until your last post, I enjoyed watching the discussion that was taking place. Your last comment however just leaves me lost.
Those are some pretty unfortunate responses Jeff.
Comparing a community center with a pool or aquatic center to a water treatment plant that will end the deadly affects of cancer causing radium exposure...the street improvements and not sure what money you are talking about for downtown...which has seen 4 new business open their doors in the last year with one more on the way....
Isanti has spent over 10 million dollars in the last few years on infrastructure and will be spending 6 million on the water treatment plant.
Isanti has spent a great deal of money to improve infrastructer to support growth.
Assuming you are not a Council Memeber or city staff I know you were not in attendance at the meeting because not one person attended the goal setting session from the public.
My frustration stems from the statments made by some of my fellow council members that there is nothing to do in Isanti and that we need to have something for everyone. Statements that there is nothing for children specificly.
The community center with a pool or ymca was explored fairly indepth last year. nothing is being swept under the rug. I have yet to see what we will learn from staff research or committee meetings that we do not already know.
I will give you another example to go along with the library one I gave earlier.
Isanti has tried several times to place a senior/assisted living in our city. It is still a goal of the Council....we have however agreed to keep meeting with groups...we had one at our December work session...and another will be coming forward in another two or three months. We are looking for a project that will work. There is no committee working on this specificly or staff time pursueing it until the fundamental facts on the ground changes.
This would have been the appropriate route I think for the idea of an enhanced community center with a pool and such....
I do give life long residents a break however if they get mad about all the development. They have seen their taxes go off the charts. Those of us who have moved here during all this growth have benefitted from their taxes to a greater degree than they have. Just as those that have come after us benefit from what our taxes have paid for.
I have given this project great thought and have done extensive research as I do on any city project. I spend a great deal of time working through these issues before I come to a conclusion.
Again I tie it back to the liquor store discusion. The store renovation has moved forward under the guise of lets see how much it really cost to make it happen.
Well unless it is close to free we can not afford it at this time. The $16k being asked for to have yet another set of plans drawn up will take over $200,000 in new sales to cover at our 7% net profit which is right on the state average.
To say we can not afford it does not I think make my statements evil. I think it would also be best that before you make leaps in logic that nothing has been done you could call or come in and see me during my office hours. Generally a few minutes talking can if not bring agreement at least it could bring a greater understanding.
Sarcasm. Exactly how my last statement was meant. Of course I support the water treatment plant, and all the hard work our current Mayor and council has done to cut taxes and curb ridiculous spending. Some benefits are worth spending the tax payer money. Those decisions are easy to make once the benefits are clearly identified and the costs are defined. I've just asked for more information on the costs.
All I have asked for here is a little more information to make my own decision on the issue. I've presented my case based on the information I've had, and when necessary George has posted more cost figures. In return, people are acting like I'm walking around town begging to raise taxes. I've asked for more information before a decision is made. In my very first comment, I agreed that if the center would cost too much that it shouldn't be built.
George, I'd be happy to discuss this issue with you. At that point you will find out that I'm not advocating the insane tax hike everyone here thinks I am. Everybody needs to take a deep breath.
I shall await the meeting...
Jeff you now say you justed wanted more numbers but when George gave them to you you said they were big numbers and not relevent. Then he gave the full examples with debt and operations together. Have you asked those in favor of spending city resources to give you "their" numbers or reasons based on facts? Or is George the only one who gets raked over the coals for taking a position.
George said no one went to the meeting. Then how do you know what happened there or what was said. You make the arguement for more information. How do you know what was talked about?
I have met with George and the only problem I had was he kept informing me with all the information he had an example after example. Everyone should experience this for themselves. just make sure you book enough time!
Chris, I've met with George severall times and have a great deal of respect for how he offers his opinion in this type of forum. No other council members so openly present themselves to the community in this fashion, that I am aware of. On 95% of the issues, I completely support the Mayor.
I was very happy to have more of the numbers presented that George uses to support his side of the arguement, that was what I am looking for. As it looks now, a center like the Becker facility would be out of reach for Isanti right now. But maybe Isanti doesn't need something as big as Becker's facility, frankly I think Becker's facility would be way too big for our town.
To answer another question, yes I have discussed the topic with other council members. But there are no online forums to question them on their numbers such as this one. Again, George deserves respect for putting himself out in the open like this.
To all the Bloggers,
CM Kolb, Duff and I visited both Montecello and Becker Facilities. Becker was ok and Montecello was very nice. If Isanti was ever to build a project like this it needs to be done right the first time. It happens so often that government builds stuff on a whim and they have to pay dearly in the end. The Mayor and council members we elected to change the city have worked very hard to lower our taxes. It was nice to tell my friends in Cambridge that my taxes went down not up like theirs.
Yes lets all keep our emotions out of this and think whats best for the city at this date and time. When I visited Montecello we spoke with a city staff member that made that 12,000,000 porject come true. We were informed that they had a council willing to "fall on a sword" to get the facility built and it was the right time for it. We need to remember Montecello also has a Nucular Power Plant.... **Huge Tax Revenue** Their ducks were in a row to get it done and it got done.
Times have changed, Isanti has a huge mortgage crisis. My neighborhood with 59 homes had up to 4 forclosures at one time. **Not good** Gas prices are very high and a lot of us commute to the cities for work or to see family or friends.
Is it the right time for Isanti? I don't know. I want to see this facility happen as much as anyone else, but I do not want our taxpayers to foot the entire bill like the water treatment plant. Did everyone notice the higher water bills yet? We need our taxes to stay the same or go down during this tough time. When the market turns it may be a better time to look into this. If we form a comittee please do not spend any taxpayers money until the time is right.
Ross Lorinser
If people want to use a pool, I'm certain the Cambridge High School pool has plenty of open swimming. Isn't Cambridge also working with the feds to build a pool/community center in their city as well?
There is great plenty to do in Isanti. Things are coming along fine, a pool should be very low on the priority list of things to do.
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