Every year the city of Duluth establishes its state legislative priorities, which usually includes a list sent to St. Paul of projects for which we're asking the state to bond (borrow) money. This year the mayor proposed a typical list of issues important to the city -- except for one priority that struck a nerve with several city councilors: bonding money for the NorShor Theater. A concern expressed by me and at least two other councilors was that if we approved the list, the mayor may lobby the NorShor as a high priority when there are clearly more critical projects desperately needed.
Our list (city resolution 12-0601) integrated flood-recovery projects and public infrastructure, including streets, bridges, wastewater pipes and drinking water pipes. The huge West Duluth water reservoir is in dire need of a $5 million roof, and the seawall behind the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center is collapsing. This winter, like most, we experienced numerous water line breaks. The city budget for 2013, like 2012, has no funding at all for street reconstruction or preservation, while our Duluth Citizen Survey 2012 says 83 percent of respondents were not satisfied (rated fair or poor) with the condition of city streets.
I am disappointed the mayor and our legislators included in their bonding as a priority (HF 794) $4.9 million for an elevator in the NorShor and a skywalk connecting it to the casino. Recall that the state "borrowed" $290 million from school districts in Minnesota, including Duluth's Independent School District 709. The state's first priority should be to return that money to our schools then focus on important city needs instead of wants.
Jim Stauber
Duluth
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The write is a Duluth city councilor.
