The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
On Wednesday, Feb. 1, discussions at a special Carrington City Council meeting became heated following a presentation about the plan to rebuild Rainbow Gardens and construct a Visitor Center on Main Street.
Dennis Swanson, president of the Carrington Rainbow Gardens board of directors, delivered the presentation, which detailed the garden’s local history, the purpose of bringing it back, how funding is being raised and more.
Of the many items he discussed, Swanson made sure to remind those in attendance that rebuilding Rainbow Gardens is by no means a new idea, and has been thoroughly researched both in the past and more recently.
“It has been revisited many times in the past,” said Swanson, as he explained that in 1976 it was extensively evaluated, and was more recently discussed at strategic planning sessions and as part of the Carrington Main Street Initiative.
Swanson said the project’s goals are to take a “major step forward with the City of Carrington’s revitalization plan” and to “be a catalyst for opportunities in the future.”
“We want to enhance downtown businesses with an attractive Japanese–style garden and tourist information center that would draw more people to downtown,” he added.
After his presentation, Swanson asked the dozen or so people in attendance if they had any questions.
When the meeting first got underway, however, Carrington Mayor Tom Erdmann explained that any discussions must be specific to the Carrington Rainbow Gardens project, and not the 1 percent restaurant tax proposed at the Jan. 9 council meeting.
“The agenda is the Rainbow Gardens only, so if anyone is here thinking that we’re going to discuss the first reading of Ordinance 277, which is the proposed food and beverage tax, that will not be discussed because it’s not on the agenda,” said Erdmann.
However, that didn’t stop community members from expressing their disapproval of the proposed tax or asking questions about it.
During his presentation, Swanson had said the proposed tax is being discussed to help with operational costs.
“These facilities don’t generate enough money on their own to maintain themselves,” said Swanson, “so you need to have some way you can sustain that and that’s why we would propose [the tax].”
The point was also made, however, that the proposed tax would not just be used for Carrington Rainbow Gardens, which prompted one community member to ask what other projects the tax could potentially fund.
Laurie Dietz, director of Carrington Chamber and Economic Development Corporation, said, “It will have an oversight committee, and they will take applications for funding for various projects in the community.
“. . . . it’s called a capital construction fund,” she added. “Will 100% of the capital construction fund go to Rainbow Gardens? Absolutely not.”
In response to another question regarding the organizational structure of Carrington Rainbow Gardens, Swanson noted that they’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit private organization, and Dietz then explained why.
“The reason we want to be a nonprofit and organize as such, is because as a 501(c)(3) we are eligible for a lot of grant funds,” she said, “and we’re going to need a lot of grant funds.”
Swanson, Dietz, and also Roger Gussiaas, another member of the Carrington Rainbow Gardens board of directors, expressed more than once that they are attempting to fund the project as much as possible using private dollars and grants.
They have already been awarded a Creative Community Solutions Grant for $300,000 from Strengthen N.D., and Swanson said other grants and opportunities are pending.
At one point, the estimated cost of the project was as much as $1.3 million, however, Swanson told the Independent on Tuesday that, following public feedback, they’re making some changes in hopes of bringing the budget below $1 million.
At the Feb. 1 meeting, Swanson said that if they can’t raise the necessary funds, they may have to delay the project.
After the period of questions and answers that followed Swanson’s presentation, the city council opened up the podium to several community members who were on the agenda to address the council. In total, six community members stepped up and expressed a number of various concerns.
Aaron Fauss argued the council would be “pricing people out of Carrington,” if they moved forward with a food and beverage tax. He and others also expressed their belief that the Carrington City Council and Carrington Rainbow Gardens board of directors have not handled the project transparently.
Another community member and main street business owner, Hope Carr, pointed out that the presentation Swanson had just delivered included some substantial differences from the one she saw only weeks ago, such as the building’s capacity.
Swanson acknowledged the change, saying the building’s capacity has decreased from 150 people in round table seating to around 50, based on public input. Throughout the night, Swanson consistently made the point that this project is not finalized, and that plans could still change.
Another sentiment expressed by multiple community members was that they do support certain aspects of the project and what it stands for, even if they don’t support using public funds to help make it a reality.
“I am very happy the decision was made to put this on Main Street,” said Carr. “In many ways you listened to some of the stuff I’ve said over the years, so I’m not here just to criticize. I’m here to also thank you for making that decision. I think that’s a great step in the right direction.”
While Fauss was at the podium, he expressed that, as a history teacher, he appreciates that the project celebrates Carrington’s local history. Another local business owner, Scott Fetch, said earlier in the meeting, “If you can do this without the tax money I’d be all for it, I’d even help you back it.”
A number of other concerns were expressed throughout the evening, and it became evident that community members still have plenty of questions about the project.
Following the meeting, the Independent reached out to Swanson about putting together an article for the newspaper to help answer some of the questions posed by community members, and Swanson agreed.
The Independent is now looking to business owners and community members to submit their questions about the project. A list will then be compiled and sent to Swanson and the Carrington Rainbow Gardens board of directors, who will provide their responses in writing for a future article.
If you’d like your questions answered, please submit them via the Independent’s email ([email protected]), in writing to the Independent office at 1191 Main St. in Carrington, or by mail to P.O. Box 138, Carrington, N.D. 58421. Note that due to space limitations, the Independent reserves the right to edit or omit questions at our discretion.
Though further discussion of the proposed restaurant tax was limited at the Feb. 1 special meeting, city council members gave their assurance that another special meeting would be held specifically to address Ordinance 277.
Erdmann said the ordinance is currently being reviewed by legal counsel and must make its way through the N.D. Tax Commissioner’s office, who will ensure the ordinance complies with N.D. Century Code. Once that process is completed, the special meeting will take place, Erdmann said.
The Independent will provide an update when the date of the special meeting is scheduled.
