06/20/2000 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 6/20/2000 dollars in debt. However, since January of'98 we have consciously reduced our total debt while maintaining our infrastructure and enhancing our city with street lighting, for example. As a matter of fact, in this year 2000, we are also spending roughly $500,000 for recreation needs without raising your taxes. I believe that purchasing this land is an investment in our future. Land for green space purposes is a finite resource. Once it is gone, it will be difficult to replace. I believe this purchase of 9 acres of green space is an excellent investment in our future and this parcel of land will be a valuable addition to the Bradley Road soccer fields recreation area. My Safety Director and I welcome the opportunity to discuss any aspect relative to the land purchase with you." Mr. Limpert, chairperson of the Recreation, Public Parks and Buildings Committee reported on the Recreation Commission meeting which took place on June I9: 1) The commission met in regular session with the major topic of discussion being the Bradley Road property. There were many residents in attendance. During the meeting, the commission reviewed city maps that had been -put to scale in order to lay out ball diamonds, soccer fields, etc. on areas owned by the city and the school system. Basically, the commission did discover that there are places that could probably fit these types of activities if the spaces were used wall-to-wall and every tree was cut down. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION • Gemma Szabo, 30837 Bradley Road, asked the Mayor why everyone did not receive a copy of his letter. Mrs. Szabo and Mrs. Schooley, who both live in the area of the property, did not receive a letter. Mayor Musial said that he sent the letters to the sendees, the individuals who had sent the letters out. The sendees being the individuals who are not mentioned in the correspondence that Mrs. Szabo and others sent out and never sent to him. Mrs. Szabo said that they did not send anything out. A letter was distributed at a Council meeting, and the Mayor received a copy. Mrs. Kasler said that the letters were distributed during caucus. Mrs. Szabo questioned the Mayor as to where he was going to get the taxes for the land. Mayor Musial said the monies would be borrowed and the payback would be through revenue that we are obtaining through income and property taxes. It does not mean an increase in taxes. Mrs. Szabo did not agree, saying that, one way or another, it comes out of the pockets of the citizens. Mayor Musial said that was different than the statement that taxes will be raised. We collect taxes to take care of the infrastructure, for slab repair. We borrow money to take care of recreation needs from the taxes that we have coming in. These are the same monies that are being expended for taking care of our Police Dept., our Fire Dept. and the like. There is enough money coming in to take care of the principal and the interest without raising taxes. Mrs. Szabo said she still couldn't see it. One way or another, the people are still going to be paying far it. Mr. Limpert said it is a difference of semantics. If you are looking at taxes being "raised" as in collecting monies in a continuous way, that would be accurate from Mrs. Szabo's point of view. However, traditionally when one puts out a piece that says taxes will be raised, it means that the rate in which taxes will be assessed will be increased. In no way would this increase the amount of taxes that individuals pay. 8 .~.. _ _ ~., ~..,~.~,w,.~ .~.~~.R.,.~~...,~..~..o_. ,. .., .