Cottage Grove, YMCA in talks on community center
April 5, 2011 at 11:42 am in South Washington County Bulletin
The city of Cottage Grove and the YMCA are nearing a deal to partner in the operation of a proposed community center in the city. Continue Reading
No more new taxes! We have a community pool, we have parks, fields, pavillions, H.S. fieldhouses (walking,parties) and arenas. we have many facilities that the community can utilize. We also have passed several referendums in the past few elections. Let a private company come in like LifeTime Fitness, Golds, etc. that can provide recreational opportunities. People then can choose to participate with a monthly fee, not a citywide tax!!!
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John, did you even read the article? the Mayor stated quite clearly that if the new community center requires city money, it will be submitted to a referendum. So quite your premature whining about new taxes. If you friends, neighbors and relatives approve raising new revenue, you will pay more. That is what democracy is all about
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I would like this one to come to a referendum vote to see what the populace of Cottage Grove wants. Just like with City Hall. Put it a a vote do what the majority of the people want.
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teresa, please, PLEASE read the article before commenting! The Mayor states that there WILL be a referendum on any proposed community center…why you insist on doing this? My dearly departed grandma did exactly the same thing, but she had Alzheimer’s…I do hope you do not have a health issue that impairs your ability to comprehend plain English
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omg Oli you just crack me up if granny had alzheimer’s that might explain some of your behavior. I said both city hall and the ymca. put them both to the vote and we can all be happy. Yes I read the Mayor Bailey said that the Community Center would go to a vote, I was commenting on another comment, you got issues with that now? My goodness the only one who can make a comment is Oliver Law? I fully support the community center project if it goes to a vote and passes. If the cottage grove community as a whole says they want a community center I will not mind my taxes being raised for that, because the community as a whole would have made a decision on this.
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Go girl!
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O Law.. Now having a vote is democracy, but on your new work office (City Hall) it’s a bad idea?
Remember the City Hall requires city money too. 19.5million plus interest. The couple for a YMCA is peanuts compared to that.
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It really would be nice to see both items on the same referendum.
A community center would offer a whole lot more than it’s pool and gym facilities. It would be a shame if most people saw it that way.
There are some centers in the cities that are doing very good things for their community and it’s especially encouraging for the youth in the community. Something this community SERIOUS lacks.
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I fear the City Hall will continue to be forced through, then the YMCA will be voted down because everyone will be upset… You’re right, put them on the same ballot.
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CG, I agree with you that MOST people I talk with support a community center. I agree with what frame313 wrote about a comprehensive facility, etc. That being the case, do you really believe that the voters of this city are that ignorant and dumb as to vote down a community center because of the totally unrelated city hall issue? If what you are saying is correct, then voting should be banned because people would be acting irrationally against their own best interests. I do not thing that the people of CG are stupid. Do you?
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Oliver, my fear is that it could be VERY possible that people turn against the community center if the City Hall referendum is a for “General Obligation Funds or not” vote. If that is the case, I take back putting them on the same ballot. It’s like having to pick a favorite child. People won’t vote to spend any more money than they “have” to and that could leave the Community Center and those who are hoping and support it, the losers.
It’s equally as attractive for a Community Center full of programs and facilities for the community to use as it is for a new City Hall/Public Safety building for the potential developers and residents of this city. I hope the political games stop and the City thinks hard and carefully about it’s approach the Community Center.
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CG Voter, I agree with you. I think most voters will be so upset by the way the city hall situation is being handled they will vote down the community center. This would be a real shame.
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Shawn, there are too many “ifs” in your thoughts regarding this matter! I’ll add one more: if the world ends in 2012 then all of this would be moot anyway! I guess we will have to wait and see what happens with city hall and how this helps or hinders the discussion on the community center. Glad to read some concrete thoughts in addition to the uniformed rants (including some from yours truly) in this thread.
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Help me with the “ifs”
Approaching the public with 2 large projects at the same time could be costly. Need can be a subjective term and hopefully you and the city can see there is need in both to equally attract the economic growth it is hoping to see. On the other side, the needs are different and vary with the voters.
Placing both of this items on one ticket has the potential of killing one of the needs, the Community Center. And hopefully you and the city can see how attractive it would be to potential developers and businesses to have a strong community (ALL or most needs met) and not one spiraling out of control trying on area voices or facebook.
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Oliver I do not see how it is totally unrelated. If the city forces through a 20+ Million dollar project that has a lot to do with future community center vote. If you empty the checkbook, it’s wise to take that into consideration when spending more.
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Hi again Oliver,
I agree with John – Life Time or Golds would be terrific. Golds wanted to come here. I thought the article in the Bulletin was interesting – especially when Mayor Bailey used the most recent ‘catch phrase’ of what is a WANT and what is a NEED. Guess we will have to see what develops – wish Gold would have been allowed to come in before.
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Aren’t there already of number of private gyms in the community? What about some good strong teen/youth programs and facilities?
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Frame313 I agree we need the teen/youth programs. There has to be more in cottage grove for the young people who are not on sports teams to do.
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And hopefully the city and the citizens will see the need and not mentally treat the community center as another gym or lousy unneeded tax increase. This community could really grow and be very inviting for new business and development with the right programs. Building a city hall alone is (my opinion) half of the invite.
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Um…the former mayor killed Golds…don’t lay that at the feet of this council. The planning commission voted for Golds to move forward.
CG … stop using the 20+ million. It is inaccurate. The cap is $17 million. Please use facts when making an argument, otherwise it just sounds ignorant.
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Okay I guess I will ask the question here, if building the city hall will not affect our taxes, how was the money raised for it? Isn’t the city funded by our taxes? Some way, some how, all the money that is used for City Hall will have been paid for by the tax payers of Cottage Grove. So if the money in the general fund is there, how was it acccumulated? Was the city over taxing us or were the funds meant for something else? How was that money raised?
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I fully understand that a city needs a general fund I am not questioning that. What I am questioning I guess is the fact that they would empty the general fund for the building, then they have too much in the general fund if they can foot this kind of building. This has become so political it is ridiculous. What is the city so afraid of that they would not let this go to referendum? If it is truly needed and the city can make their case that it is really needed it should get approved.
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Teresa, for the 10-millionth time, what would the referendum be? Apparently you are incapable of grasping facts or developing coherent positions on issues. A referendum “yes” or “no” on the city hall project will NEVER fly because the city council, as opposed to you and the Lehrke Tea Party klan, do realize that the current facilities MUST be replaced or at the very least remodeled. You obstinately refuse to put for the Any reasonable alternative, and continue to parrot the same nonsensical stuff about voting, voting, voting just for the hell of it. You and the Lehrke’ klan should either get an alternative concrete proposal backed by sound numbers and facts or STFU.
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All:
I was informed that someone on this site was suggesting one of the posters was me, hiding behind another name. Nothing could be further from the truth. I do not participate in these “area voices” discussions. I do not read the comments. I do not even visit the site.
Enjoy your chat.
Justin Olsen
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