Sales tax

study to be

completed

by June

By KREMENA TODOROVA

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM - A community recreation facilities study conducted by Minneapolis-based Rozeboom Miller Architects, Inc. (RMA), will be completed in late May or early June, Ted Rozeboom of RMA told the New Ulm Parks Commission Monday night.

The study, intended to clarify projects that could be funded with a proposed local sales tax, was commissioned by the city council in November 1999.

A citywide referendum on whether or not to levy the half percent tax is scheduled for November 2000.

RMA is "at the point of beginning to gather information" which will help the firm identify and prioritize the community's space needs, Rozeboom said. The idea is "to touch base" with local interest groups, before developing preliminary construction designs and quantifying costs.

"The first real milestone is agreeing on what the community's real needs are ... and matching a space program to them," said Rozeboom. This phase will be completed at the end of February, allowing the firm to spend March, April and May on building solutions and estimating their cost.

This timeframe will give city officials enough time to organize a referendum publicity campaign, Rozeboom said.

"My feeling is that we have more time than we need," he said. "Six to eight weeks is usually enough time to get the information out to the public, and [helps wage] a more focused campaign."

Rozeboom said RMA's agreement with the city can accommodate different degrees of involvement in the publicity campaign. "We can certainly provide graphic support ... or take a more front-and-center place."

"It's your call - the agreement is flexible enough."

New Ulm gained legislative approval for a local sales tax referendum in early 1999.

According to a city-commissioned study completed in March 1999, a 20-year sales tax, if approved, would help generate some $9 million for construction.

While park officials have met with interest groups and developed a list of projects that could benefit from the tax, specific locations for these projects are far from finalized.

Potential candidates for funding include senior citizens facilities; a second sheet of ice at Vogel Arena, the Brown County Fairgrounds or another location; a performing arts auditorium; and conference and arts-and-crafts facilities.