[Mpls] [mpls} District 4 debate a Kenwood Recreation Center

[Elizabeth Wielinski]

This evening I had an opportunity to listen to the District 4 MPRB 
candidates debate at the Kenwood Rec Center. ( I was really there for 
the at-large debate but stayed later)   Being from Northeast and not 
having the Lake of the Isles issues or the Hidden Beach issue as part 
of my neighborhood I asked a question pertaining to Northeast because 
though the district members are really tied to their own constituents 
they vote on issues that pertain to all parts of town.  My issue was of 
course the fact that prior to it becoming the Lupient  Waterpark, the 
northeast pool had reasonable family rates that people like my family 
could afford to pay for and use.  I asked the candidates what they 
could do to help solve this problem.

   Christine Hanson was of the opinion that the MPRB should be making 
these places free and that more partnering with foundations would give 
the needed dollars to make this happen.  With her background in 
business she would be able to help make the grant requests more viable 
with better plans for how the money would be spent.

   Tracy Nordstom was of the opinion that some park services should 
require fees but that by making a sliding scale and setting reasonable 
prices the cost for upkeep, lifeguards, parking lot maintenance etc... 
could be covered as well as providing an opportunity for all to 
participate.


Most people now would say... vote for that free lady....  get the money 
from some foundation and get a pass.   NOT ME

I am of the old school that says you do not value something unless you 
have had to work for it.  But the current fee is for many families just 
unattainable regardless of how many hours you work.  I think that the 
MPRB should spend my tax dollars wisely and should be providing 
services to me at a cost I can afford.  If they get too many foundation 
dollars they are no longer accountable to me the taxpayer but to the 
foundations that pay for their programs.  And crazily enough when times 
are tough and folks really need the help is when foundation donations 
go down.

The current board has a majority that never seems to question their 
poor decisions even when the losses appear in the budget year after 
year.  Having someone like Tracy on the board will bring in a person 
who will give you not the prettiest answer but the hard answer that 
really makes better sense in the long run.

Liz Wielinski
Columbia Park