|
Mansions stay open this year Council votes to invite proposals for future use Senior Reporter LITTLE FALLS -- Linden Hill, the Musser and Weyerhaeuser mansions in Little Falls, will remain open through the end of the year.
The Little Falls City Council Monday night voted to receive proposals on a future use of the mansions, now a city-owned conference center, through Sept. 30. The council also voted to continue to operate the conference center through Dec. 31. The council reversed an earlier decision and will now accept reservations at Linden Hill through 2005. Previously the council voted to stop taking reservations, but to honor those already on the books. The council voted Feb. 7 to close the city-owned mansions.
Monday night residents and members of the Musser/Weyerhaeuser Board said the council's decision to close the mansions was a surprise. Council members suggested publishing summaries of proposals and accepting them for three months.
City Attorney Peter Vogel suggested the council seek proposals for the mansions from developers, nonprofits and the public and then decide what use best served the community's needs. Vogel said a great idea was needed from someone who had the ability to do it.
Several members of the community rose to speak before the council, suggesting more time was needed in order for Linden Hill to succeed as a conference center. They noted tax dollars were not being spent on Linden Hill and there were funds remaining to operate it.
The city gained ownership of the mansions in 1995. The homes were built for young lumber barons Richard "Drew" Musser and Charles A. Weyerhaeuser. Laura Jane Musser was the last occupant and wanted the homes to be used for a public purpose. The Laura Jane Musser Trust was set up to honor her wishes and the homes were offered to the city along with a $1 million fund. The city was required to keep the homes for five years in order to get the full $1 million. The conference center was allowed to use both interest on the $1 million and principal in order to start the conference center. The endowment fund had a balance of $598,020 as of January.
"We've given it seven years," said Mayor Brian Mackinac. He repeatedly asked people how much time they thought was enough.
Charles Kapsner, a friend of Laura Jane Musser, said a golden egg given to the city was scrambled. He said draining the $1 million endowment was a mistake and he questioned the city's management skills.
"Thank God the (Charles) Lindbergh home belongs to the state," he said.
Jim Peters, Musser/Weyerhaeuser Board member, asked the council to reconsider its decision to not take reservations. He said in the past two weeks Linden Hill turned down $5,000 of out-of-town money.
"I can't understand any financial common sense in this," he said.
Mackinac suggested the mansions will have higher maintenance bills than budgeted. Peters said the mansions have a new roof, plumbing and electrical updates and major maintenance issues have been dealt with.
Peters said perhaps the council's decision was a wake-up and he hoped the community could band together.
"You let your history go and your town will go right along with it," Peters said.
Mackinac said the city should not be in the business of doing business. A couple of motions to table the mansions issue were withdrawn.
"I'm catching heck all the time for wasting public money," council member Kate Zak Davis said, noting now people wanted to waste money on the mansions. "I'm very frustrated."
Council member Hub Zyvoloski proposed giving city residents more time to organize. Council member Dennis Kukowski proposed setting the date for proposals for the final day of 2005. The council approved his suggestion.
"I think the community will come up with something," Peters said.
RENEE RICHARDSON can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
|
Overcast, 61°
