3.7. SR 12-22-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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RESOLUTION 03 -__ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT FUNDING OF A VISITOR CENTER AT THE SHERBURNE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WHEREAS, the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is located near the City of Elk River in Sherburne County, Minnesota; and WHEREAS, the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge provides educational and recreational resources for the residents of Elk River; and WHEREAS, visitors to the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge purchase goods and services from businesses in Elk River; and WHEREAS, a Visitor Center would greatly enhance the experiences of visitors to the Refuge; and WHEREAS, the number of visitors to the Refuge would significantly increase if a Visitor Center is located on the Refuge; and WHEREAS, a Visitor Center would provide greatly improved facilities for environmental education programs for students from many schools in the surrounding area; and WHEREAS, the present facilities for visitors to the Refuge are very inadequate; and WHEREAS, a Visitor Center would also provide greatly improved facilities for the hundreds of volunteers at the Refuge; and WHEREAS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ranks a Visitor Center at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge as #1 in Minnesota, #1 or ~2 in Region 3 (eight states), and in the top 10 nationwide; and WHEREAS, the funding for a Visitor Center would be provided by the United States Government; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Elk River supports an appropriation of $500,000 in the fiscal year 2004 Federal budget for building startup, and additional funds in the fiscal year 2005 Federal budget to continue construction, and encourages Congressman Mark Kennedy, Senator Mark Dayton, and Senator Norm Coleman to provide their assistance in this matter.