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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 13, 2011 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />George Lane, 2405 Division Street, Mishawaka, Indiana, stated that he feels pushed into <br />this bill. He advised that there are too many projects in one bill. He advised separating <br />out those projects into several bills for the Council consideration. He stated that he is <br />against Miracle Park. Mr. Lane stated that he understands the need, however, when he <br />was involved with years ago, it was a place where the parents thought they could just <br />drop their child off for someone else to watch. He stated that parents need to participate <br />too and not think of the park as some place to drop off their children. He stated that the <br />price tag is just too high, and there are other parks that could be developed for this <br />concept. Mr. Lane advised that the other parks are in need of repair and adding another <br />park at this time is not feasible. He stated that the Park Department can’t keep up on <br />what they have now. He stated that the City Administration shoved the Public Safety <br />LOIT tax through and told everyone that they if they didn’t pass this tax they would have <br />to lay-off workers, including police and fire and that way a lie. He stated and now there <br />seems to be a 9 million dollar surplus of money laying around for all these projects. He <br />urged the Council to look at these projects separately and prioritize them carefully. <br /> <br />T. K. Rowling, 1001 Mayflower Road, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she is very much <br />in favor of Miracle Park. She advised that she is a parent of twin daughters with special <br />needs. She stated that Challenger Little League is a tremendous part of their lives. <br />However, the children can only play ball until there are 18 years old. Miracle Park could <br />be a place where young adults could continue to ball play and get the exercise that they <br />need. Miracle Park would provide a place where her daughters can play and interact with <br />other children with special needs. She stated that the park is a place where kids can be <br />kids and laugh and have a good time. She stated that now the Little League has to share <br />time at various parks and having a park all their own would give the children more time <br />to play ball and wheel chair access on and off the field would not be an issue. She urged <br />the Council’s favorable consideration of Miracle Park. <br /> <br />David Frank, 50520 Burtonwood, South Bend, Indiana, advised that taxes are higher than <br />they have ever been and the quality of life is lower that it’s ever been. More vacant <br />buildings residential, commercial, higher crime. Mr. Frank stated that there are problems <br />in this community and have been following the CEO, the Mayor and his advice on <br />financial issues such as the Football Hall of Fame. He stated that he remembers being in <br />this room about 20 years ago and listening to a group of people who were begging the <br />City Council not to spend the taxpayer’s money on the Football Hall of Fame and it was <br />led by Steve Luecke and the Football Hall Fame has been a financial disaster for this <br />community. Mr. Frank stated that we are still following him, by spending almost 10 <br />million dollars at Coveleski. He advised that before the city spends 9 million dollars of <br />taxpayer’s money, to take that money and set up a system that gets the input of the <br />people. He stated that he guarantees that if these issues were given to the people in this <br />community and they really explain in more than three pages if the people in this <br />community really understood where this money was going, that if the Council really <br />wanted the input of the people of this community you could really get it. Mr. Frank <br />stated that he thinks the Council doesn’t really want the input. He stated that there are <br />100,000 people in the City of South Bend and 267,000 in St. Joseph County and there are <br />seat in the Council Chambers that hold approximately 150 people. He stated that the <br />people who are in attendance tonight are not a litmus test of the direction that this <br />st <br />community should be going. He stated that if we are going to plan the 21 century, we <br />st <br />should use 21 century tools and we aren’t doing that for what ever reason. Mr. Frank <br />stated that he is from here and this community is now a disaster. He begged the Council <br />not to keep following the same financial advice that has brought us to this point. <br /> <br /> <br />MOTION FOR RECESS <br />Council President Dieter made a motion for a ten (10) minute recess. Councilmember <br />Oliver Davis seconded the motion. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 6 <br /> <br />