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<br />. <br /> <br />One of the reasons why the City of Elk River is considering <br />establishing its own recreation department is the ongoing financial <br />concerns raised by Otsego (and, to a certain extent, Dayton and <br />Hassan Township). It seems that the goals of members of the <br />organization have changed from when the organization began seven <br />years ago. In 1992, the goals of the members included combining <br />resources in order to offer more and better recreation services and <br />programs. Now, since reasonably good recreation programs, facilities, <br />and services are available, it seems that the goal for some members is <br />to maintain the status quo (especially financially) versus wanting to <br />continue to offer more and better recreation services and programs. <br />This changing goal is creating conflicts and is one of the reasons for <br />Elk River's evaluation of its future role with the organization. <br /> <br />Most everyone has "weighed in" with opinions on the various options <br />for the future of the organization. This includes Elk River considering <br />doing its own recreation programming and the school district offering <br />to manage the municipal recreation programs if the joint powers <br />organization dissolves. Under the right conditions, it may be best to <br />continue with the community recreation organizations with all of the <br />current members remaining as participants. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The Community Recreation Board meets on July 19 and the budget is <br />anticipated to be considered by the board in the near future. Assuming <br />that a new director is hired, and that some additional part time <br />programming time will be needed in order to increase services and <br />programming opportunities, then a modest budget increase is <br />anticipated. Response to a proposed community recreation budget <br />increase from Otsego, Dayton, and Hassan Township, or if the <br />community recreation budget is "frozen," may be beneficial to Elk <br />River in deciding which of the three program options is best for our <br />residents. <br /> <br />Regarding a decision timeframe for the city to withdraw from the joint <br />powers agreement or not, there doesn't seem to be any great rush and <br />the city can wait until the community recreation budget is considered. <br />Also, the city can, if it decides to withdraw from the organization, give <br />one year notice rather than a six month notice. This one year notice <br />gets all the members through next summer's programming season, and <br />this is the heaviest program period for the organization. The <br />additional six months also allows everyone more time to better <br />consider their future options as individual communities. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />If (for whatever reasons) the current joint powers agreement does not <br />survive, then Elk River will have to decide if it should go on its own <br />