02-28-1989 PTRC Meeting Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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• KeepingUp , y L.A. Jones nv Reconsider part-time director program HIRING A part-time parks and recreation pro- good sense to invest another $10,000 of charitable gram director is a good idea that merits reconsidera- money to make good use of those resources. To do tion in Arden Hills. It is an idea that would cost the otherwise is akin to buying a new car and parking it city nothing in 1989 and would benefit Arden Hills in your garage for safe keeping. residents in a most tangible way. In addition, Council Member Malone's assertion Three charities doing business at the Pot O' Gold that an outside force would be directing city policy is bingo hall have agreed to pay the salary costs of a an equally fallacious argument against hiring a part-time director-estimated to be about$10,000 in part-time director. 1989. Two members ofthe city council have support- The city council,as with any charitable donation, ed the idea and two members have opposed it. A contribution or grant, has the authority to reject or fifth was not present to vote on the issue. accept a donation or participate in a grant program. Opposition to the plan has centered around The fact that the council already voted 2-2 not to • Council Member Nancy Hansen's perception that hire a part-time director plainly speaks to this fact. there is no such need for a director and Council Member Paul Malone's contention that the charities CLEARLY,TILE idea is a good one and could be are,'in effect, already making the decision for the attempted on a one-year trial basis to see if a part- city by donating the funds. time director increases recreational participation Both arguments, however, are fallacious and do and use of the city's park sites, as pragmatically not take into account the potential benefits a part- suggested by Mayor Tom Sather and Council time program director would afford both the city's Member Thomas Mahowald. parks program and Arden Hills youth in general. If the demand for a part-time program director does not prove cost-efficient, or if Arden Hills resi- COUNCIL MEMBER Hansen has stated, "I just dents do not respond to new recreational opportuni- don't see the parks being used a lot." Given the fact ties, the council should have little trouble eliminat- that what she says is true, however, shouldn't the ing the position in 1990. city attempt to make maximum use of its park Mayor Sather is right when he says, "I would resources by making an intensity of recreational like to try it. I don't see a lot of risk myself in this opportunities available to residents? particular proposal." The city has invested hundreds of thousands of Philosophical opposition and a mere perception dollars developing its park sites, and it just makes should not stand in the way of at least trying. •