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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />City of Elk River is withdrawing from the program. Similar to what the City <br />of Zimmerman and Livonia Township did a few years ago when they withdrew <br />from the program, Elk River would then establish its own city recreation <br />program or park and recreation department to provide services to Elk River <br />residents. <br /> <br />According to recent budget information, approximately 60 percent of the <br />community recreation revenues from cities and of the programs offered directly <br />relate to the City of Elk River. In evaluating these and other figures, the Elk <br />River City Council may very well conclude that the best value for its money <br />and the best way to manage programming services to our residents is to <br />establish our own recreation program. <br /> <br />If Elk River withdraws from the JPA, the Elk River City Council has <br />indicated its desire to continue working with other communities of the JPA for <br />recreation programming as desired and as deemed appropriate. <br /> <br />If Elk River withdraws from the JP A, and if the community recreation <br />organization decides to not continue, then the City of Elk River would plan to <br />hire the existing community recreation staff. On the other hand, if the <br />community recreation organization and JP A did continue after the withdrawal <br />of Elk River, then the City of Elk River would hire staff and move forward <br />with our recreation programming efforts. <br /> <br />Continuing to partner and serve the youth associations (mainly youth baseball <br />and girls youth softball) and continuation to cooperate with Community <br />Education to avoid duplication of services, are significant issues of concern to <br />the Elk River City Council. <br /> <br />Nothing has been decided by the Elk River City Council, nor will any further <br />discussions be held until at least after the next Community Recreation Board <br />meeting. The Elk River City Council wants the recreation board to know <br />which way it is leaning in this dilemma, and desires to obtain some feedback <br />from the members of the Community Recreation Board. Better options may <br />still exist and we are open to additional suggestions. <br /> <br />c: Charlie Blesener, Community Education <br />Michele Bergh, Community Recreation <br />Gary Morrison, Hassan Township Administrator <br />Mike Robinson, Otsego City Administrator <br />