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Mr. Perry Coonce <br />July 20, 2000 <br />Page Two <br /> <br />of intent is approaching four years old and did not represent a binding <br />commitment by either party. In the March 25, 1997, fundraising letter <br />provided to you by the Mayor, it was indicated that everyone was optimistic <br />that MSF could break ground on its new facility in the fall of 1998. Obviously <br />this has not happened. As we have discussed in the past, this land cannot <br />and will not sit vacant for the long term as demands continue to accumulate <br />for city facilities. I must acknowledge to you that if the YMCA aggressively <br />commits to the community and desires this site for a proposed facility, then <br />the City Council will agree to donate this property for the project. The city <br />strongly wants to be the home of the MSF Sports and Wellness Center and <br />will work aggressively with you to locate another site if the YMCA project <br />moves forward on the "water tower"site. <br /> <br />If all this takes place, for all intents and purposes, the letter of intent with <br />MSF will have expired. A timeframe for the MSF project has been a frequent <br />(3 or 4 times a year) question I have received from City Council members <br />regarding our 1996 letter of intent. In hindsight, the letter of intent should <br />have required annual commitments on its anniversary in order to ensure that <br />both parties were still working toward the same goal and that the land <br />continues to be available for the project. Regardless of the YMCA project, we <br />should reestablish a new letter of intent in early 2001. <br /> <br />I don't think that anything in this letter has been or will be a surprise to you <br />based on our past conversations. I simply wanted to take this opportunity to <br />document what is transpiring, and quite frankly, if the YMCA is going to <br />commit to the city, it appears that MSF will lose its preferred site in Elk <br />River. However, as we have recently discussed, hopefully there are <br />alternative, and maybe better, Elk River sites for your project. <br /> <br />If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. <br /> <br />Very truly yours, <br /> <br />Patrick D. Klaers <br />City Administrator <br /> <br /> <br />