Letter: Help seniors, economy
Voting favorably for the half-cent sales tax Nov. 6 will result in two obvious benefits.By: Daniel and Beverly Mjolsness, The Republican Eagle
To the Editor:
Voting favorably for the half-cent sales tax Nov. 6 will result in two obvious benefits.
Benefit No. 1 will accrue to our senior population. Red Wing citizens over 55 are expected to represent 40 percent of the population by 2015. The sales tax would fund the purchase of the Pottery Place Annex to house the Senior Center.
The Senior Center would partner with the Red Wing Collectors Society Foundation. The cost of the Senior Center share is $475,000.
Having a home facility will allow the seniors to expand programs conducted on weekends and in the evenings. Collaboration will be expanded with Mayo, the YMCA, colleges, churches and many other community organizations.
Continuing education for personal improvement or recreation is virtually untapped for our older population. Through technology today you can take classes from state, private and public colleges as well as the country’s top universities. You do not have to travel to Europe, Africa or Asia to learn what is happening there or to see what places look like. If you are interested, you can take courses in humanities, social sciences, engineering, math or medicine. And, among our talented population there is a rich resource of travelers and subject experts who can lead a discussion or act as a tutor.
The second among multiple benefits from passing the half-cent sales tax will be economic development and increased visits to the Pottery District.
The Red Wing Collectors Society Foundation is a national organization with historic roots here. The organization will be adding a gift of a million-piece pottery collection with the establishment of the museum in the Pottery Annex. As an acclaimed Red Wing Pottery collection, the museum expansion will become a tourist attraction.
The Senior Center and Collectors Society will make a compatible and mutually beneficial partnership at a physically accessible location.
As a lifelong Minnesota resident, property owner, taxpayer and consumer, I believe my hometown should approve the half-cent sales tax. I doubt any of us avoids doing business in Rochester, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Mankato, Winona or even little Root River tourist town of Lanesboro because they have a local sales tax. It will be, if approved, a small cost with significant benefits.
Daniel and Beverly Mjolsness
Red Wing
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