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As I see what is now going on around me I become discouraged. Our country's population has grown so large, the news channel so bad with their talk shows that care nothing about the truth, the internet where people are not held responsible for what they say, the large number of ignorant poorly educated people, and the large amount of money spent on our elections indicates to me we are no longer able to solve our many problems with the form of government we presently have.

Such letters as the one from Bill MacFarlane help confirm my view. Is he really opposed to a community center or is he merely looking for an excuse to vent his anger against Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and President Obama?

Township supervisors are elected to non-partisan positions so I don't know if they are Democrats or Republicans. I believe the people I know involved with the Walker Community Center fund raisers were Republicans. Republicans often claim that government is wasteful but many of them voted for the increase in sales tax to give even more money to the DNR which I believe is the most wasteful department we have in Minnesota. So if he believes a Community Center in Longville is a waste of money it serves no useful purpose to blame Democrats. He and the newspaper should educate the public so hopefully Longville and the Townships would not make the same mistakes Walker did.[[In-content Ad]]

I have only read one story in the Press Citizen and heard a lot of rumors. Far more information is needed to insure mistakes are not made .

Walker planned on renting space to the senior center. When they refused to move in they lost a lot of income they counted on. It appears to me they had no adequate plan as to where the money would come from to operate the Community Center and now they have a large financial problem. They hope to get 1,000 people to pledge to give them an extra $100 a year over the next 5 years. They also want the sales tax in Walker increased to help support them.

In the Press Citizen story I thought the townships were way under estimating the cost to operate a center. There was also no discussion as to the cost of purchasing the building or remodeling the kitchen and the removal of asbestos as needed. What will be the cost for janitorial services, maintenance, and full time employees to operate the center?

I could see a desire to keep the parking lot, tennis courts and Lion's Pavilion for use by the community. I think you will find like Hackensack did that their empty school building was a headache until theirs was finally torn down and replaced with a senior assisted living facility.

There is a rumor going around that those who want a Community Center expect the Senior Center to move in. I can not speak for the Senior Center since no vote has been taken. I can say I have not heard one of our members speak in support of a Community Center and I expect they like Walker Seniors will refuse to move.

I also believe the rumors should be put to rest by having more information put into the paper stating all of the cost anticipated to purchase, remodel, and operate a new Community Center. Who wants this center and who will actually use it?

I think you will find only a few people want a Community Center while they want everyone else to pay for it. This is not a Democrat verses Republican issue but merely the normal response from people brought up in a capitalist system where "greed is good".



Leonard Zimmer

Walker, MN

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