Roseville City Council OKs Bonding For Fire Station, Park Improvements

The Roseville City Council on Monday night voted 3-2 to proceed with plans to undertake $2 million in renovations to the community's park system (first phase of proposed $19 million over three years) and an $8 million replacement fire station.

The plan will be funded through bonds issued by using Port Authority powers. Bonds issued in this manner are not subject to public referendum.

Supporting the motion were Mayor Dan Roe and Councilmen Jeff Johnson and Bob Willmus; dissenting were Tammy Pust and Tammy McGehee.

The meeting, with more than 75 residents in attendance, ran past it’s normal 10 p.m. curfew with two hours of public comment. Members of the public were mostly supportive of the actual initiatives, though some expressed strong concerns about the the lack of referendum.

“Is democracy dead in Roseville?” asked resident Raymond Sewars, “Are you so afraid that the people won’t make decisions that are in the best interest of Roseville?”

Sewars' comments reflected the view of several speakers who questioned why the city felt the need to go around the referendum provision that a former council had passed for any bonding matter over $3 million dollars.

The anger of residents stemmed from a proposed increase in property taxes and utility prices over three years amounting to 25% of what they currently pay. Citing economic hardship, a bad economy and stagnant fixed incomes (mostly Social Security, which hasn’t seen a cost of living increase in two years), the residents questioned the necessity of the improvements.

“We’re going to wait a long time for an economic recovery to be where we were in 2007,” said resident Scott Richie. “You have to pare down this parks proposal—it’s too much.”

But other residents, who supported the bonding, pointed out the immediate needs of the community, mostly citing the unsafe conditions in the fire stations and deterioration of the parks.

“It comes down to the health of our fire fighters, our property owners, our children, and our seniors,” said Gale Peterson. “It’s just what you have to do.”

During council debate,  each member expressed the need for the improvements, but trepidation with a lack of referendum.

“I’m not making the decision not to do [a referendum] lightly,”  Roe said. “But it is not outside the purpose of Port Authority powers.”

Pust and McGehee disagreed with the majority.

“This is capital improvement, not maintenance, and for capital, we go to the voters," Pust contended. “I would lead the charge to the voters, and I believe they would be with you.”

Johnson, who made the motion to approve the projects, summed up his vote with a single comment:

“I think this is the best decision,” he said. “And I was hired by this town to make the best decisions.”