I would like to go back to the May 4 meeting between the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), MN Department of Health, Park Rapids Antique Tractor Club (PRATC) and city and county personnel. After discussing plans and goals at this meeting, Jonathan Smith, MPCA project manager, stated, "It is good to hear from both perspectives as to what you want to do with the property and I think everybody had noble goals and there are legitimate concerns on both ends."
Here, Mr. Weuve spoke up and said, "if we are talking long-term goals, I would rather, it if is possible somehow, through a partnership or whatever, to find a new suitable place to help relocate to a spot with less worries."
So you can see Mr. Weuve is carrying over his agenda to this work session. I hope the statements made in this session are real, and not just another excuse to sit on their hands and do nothing, or in other words play the waiting game.
Mr. Beckwith, supervisor of Superfund Unit MPCA, stated, "Throw out what you really want so we can help facilitate that. This site has caught the attention and we cannot go away. We are either going to do it creatively together which is the cheapest and faster way, or, if we can't resolve it by ourselves, then the agency will have to come in and play the bad boy and it costs more money, takes more time and there are tons of attorneys involved. It is our role, working in this program, to be as helpful in redevelopment as we can.
"If we can't work through the system, then there is the gorilla in the closet, so to speak, that comes out and says here is what you are going to have to do."
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Do we want to follow the calf path course of Mr. Weuve or is it time to open the door and release the gorilla.
Dennis Nickerson
Menahga
