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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 02-05 City won't hike park charge DISPATCH Thursday Feb. 5,1976 City won 't hike r charge _ Prospective home builders in creases on land and develop- owners would pay $215 instead Maplewood won't be hit with ment, the park commission had of$193. an increased park charge — not recommended that the 1976 - City Manager Michael Miller, for at least six more months. PAC assessment be increased to who also recommended adop- THE MAPLEWOOD City $4,500 per acre for acquisition tion of the increase, said during Council made the decision last and $8,250 per acre for develop- an interview that the PAC week to keep the park availabil- merit. charge is for building new ity charge (PAC) at $4,000 per IF THE increases had been ap- parks, not for maintaining exist- acre for parkland acquisition proved, 'a builder of a single- ing parks. and $7,500 per acre for develop- family house, for e x a m p 1 e, Councilmen Norman Ander- merit. would pay a $353 PAC charge son, Burt Murdock and Donald Because of inflationary in- instead of $317; mobile home Wiegert voted for the motion to keep the PAC rate at its present level, with a stipulation to re- view the charge in six months. Mayor Robert Bruton and Councilman John Greavu voted against the motion, but for dif- ferent reasons. "THE PRICE of aquisition and developing is going up. We've got to buy now or it's just going to keep going up," said Bruton, who supported the PAC increase. On the other hand, Greavu said: "If we want to develop parks,let's go for a bond issue." Murdock said the building in- dustry cannot afford any more increases until it gets out of its doldrums. "I'm not against having a park charge, but let's hold it like it is until money is avail- able," Murdock said. "It's not the big builders I'm concerned about. We're hurting the little guy who wants to move into this area." Wiegert said everyone else is charging more for new homes. "The only ones people can talk to is us, so we have to pull in our belt while nobody else does. But I do think we have to provide for this town and its people," Wiegert said.