08/22/1974 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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. ^ -2- We•..are ttot yet at the point of no return. We have paid for a feasibility study; we have purchssed land; we have;: voted the bonds; and now we are getting ready to authorize the Mayor to advertise for bids. Before we do that, I think we must again seriously examine our motives end take s look at exactly where we stand. Several months ago, I questioned a portion of the Koster feasibility study that showed aten-year caperati~tg ttta+s projection that indicated no yearly increase in operatit~ ccrefs - is~atead, a statsmient was included in his study to indicate that iacreai~+sd, c~p-e~catittg costs could ba cavertct simply by raising admissions fees. I point to the Koster study made prior to the construction of the Aocky Bdvex ice rttic -the same principle was es~ployed there, and the result speaks foz itself. Surely this must raise some questions for same of you? Add to this the fact that our rec ceoster is admittedly so large that we must rely. on considerable revenues from outside our own City in order to make it pay its own way. Consider that in Lakewood, an ice rink coaplex is already under construction and should open in a few menthe; a fact that could cause us to lose revenues we might have otherwise had in our own pockets. There are some things we still need to know. There are some things that as a member of Council I aatst loaow before I can justify s project that, I repeat, I would very Hoch likes to see in North Olmsted. And there are things that I feel the peels of North Olmsted have a night to know before they see their money -and even though we're financing with councilmatic bands, its sti21 their t~sy spent in this manner. I want to know, and the people went to know, how- we can succeed where others have failed. I want to see it in dollars and cents. I want to know haw we ~ be so sure the residents want this complex as mach as the a~dnistration does. I want to know whether the effects of rising prices, daeressiag beak accounts, the dollar buying less and less sack day will .have amy effect on our rec center's chances to bs self supporting. I want to know in dollars and cents. I feel that as a councilwomen I must be able to answer these questions both far myyself and for the coarseunity I represent ee an elected city official. I have studied the facts, end I am sorry to say that I do not get 104 positive answers. But I am willing to listen. I would like to propose that either Masyox Christman or a city official of his choice present us with some clear, concrete, black and white answers to my questions bq our next special meeting next Thursday, ~d that we all discuss the entire matter at that time. I feel that we awe it to ourselves to do more than make a decision and stick to it. We also owe it to ourselves and to the pesaple, to be continually re-evaluating each decision we make as we 8o along only in this way can we be as sure as possible that we're doing the right thing. I may make frtet~d~r•, and enemies along the way during my tenure in office; but I made no promises nor do I owe my al2egi~ce to any special. interest groups. My allegiance is to the reaide~nts of North Olmsted es a whole and to the Gity of North Olmsted and tv myself.