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Fight for RTC valiant
Published Friday, August 22, 2008
Some Fergus Falls residents are blurring the lines on the issues relating to the RTC. There are competing interests at stake and ill feelings being created as people pit the RTC movie proposal against the college for Chinese students.
We support the movie plan and the economic benefits a movie would have brought to Fergus Falls. We also believe the Fergus Falls City Coucil failed our local businesses and the residents of the city by failing to approve the deal.
We do not, however, oppose the college proposal or those associated with the Campus Development Group for bringing the proposal forward.
Richard Anderson has worked tirelessly both in Fergus Falls and in China to make the college a reality. Economic Improvement Commission Director Harold Stanislawski and a handful of others have been right behind him working on details to make the deal a reality.
America was built by “idea guys” and we would expect nothing less than to see people like Anderson and Stanislawski do everything in their power to fight for a project they have invested so much time and energy. They’re also fighting for a project that is a right fit for our community.
Because of the passion CDG members have for the RTC project they should have been before the council opposing the film if they truly believe it’s detrimental to their project. We would do the same. We expect you would, too.
The problem we see is in the action our City Council took with the information presented by the CDG by turning its back on the business community and voting the movie proposal down.
In a perfect world we would have seen in Fergus Falls a 30-day film shoot bringing hundreds of thousands of dollars into the community in terms of hotel, dining, and shopping expenditures. Combine that with hundreds of Chinese students unpacking suitcases and duffel bags at a proposed international learning center and we would have had a situation that could have been a win-win for everybody.
Instead we appear to be developing a script for a bad B-movie.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by richan (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why am I not surprised at the Council's action. this is Fergus Falls. City of a lake on a hill. City of a big building with a long, if not always proud history.things which while interesting. still provide no reason for the young People, educated here, to stay here, or those from else where, to move here this mindset is the same as I recall from my Youth when Fergus Falls was being considered as a site for a 3M plant. but, the plant went elsewhere. the common wisdom for that being, that the powers that ,were, in Fergus at that time were deathly afraid of the Union wages such a plant would bring to town. whether that is true? no one can prove. one way or the other. but that and some other similar decisions through the years have for some of us left a sad feeling for the town We grew up in. as it continues its ongoing desire for no growth beyond annexation plans. Our town is not what it should be. it could be so much more than a long distance sleeping quarters for Fargo. that goal would be met by acknowledging the efforts and intellect utilized by those trying to bring new concepts to the town. especially concepts which don't cost the town anything. Fergus Falls, as My Kids would say. get a life.
Posted by hometown (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
With all due respect Richard Anderson is in no way in a position to turn down anything that comes with money to Fergus. How arrogant to think that this one man can do what he please without the express permission and council of the people. If anything he should be in emergency mode, but yet he is allowed to pick and choose what he wants to see come to Fergus because he is an "idea guy"? Please give me a break. Mr. Anderson is to do what the people want not what he feels is right. There is alot of back door stuff going on because if there were not then he woulden't have come across as having something to hide. From what I understand he didn't answer the questions asked or when he did he was very vague and argumentative. I can appriciate the time and effort it takes to go and pursue businesses but an elected offical cannot allow himself to be influenced by his own pet projects, especially when few are standing behind him. The people need to be active and need to be heard not lorded over by someone who thinks he is above the citizen's. This mess is entirely due to the fact that the city council can't seem to be honest and upfront with it's citizen's and I believe that is why so many people are up in arms about any of this. Honesty is always the best policy. That way at least everyone has an opportunity to be active in what goes on there but it's awfully hard to do when your not getting the entire story. Just GD ridiculous!
Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know where the CDG are getting the numbers they've suggested.
the Hunan normal university http://www.hunnu.edu.cn/english/ has 300 students to send abroad divided between 55 schools, how that would amount to more than 4 or 5 students for Fergus.
I just feel we deserve straight answers to questions like these.
Jamie Cooper
Posted by betterworld (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well. The City Father's are certainly doing what their Father's did, and their Father's Fathers', and their Father's, Father's FAthers....... You know what? The folks with the same old mindsets from yesteryear need to take a "Progressive 101" class.......what were you thinking?
Posted by cheif (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jamie, how do you know they aren't agreeing to a different plan? I'm sure Mr. Anderson wouldn't make up the 500 number... Or, if it's an estimate, it still would be more than 4 or 5.
Posted by hindsight (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 3:07 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by Generally_Misunderstood (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I will not fault any member of this community for trying to put the reuse of the RTC into effect. Even if during last Monday's council meeting Mr. Anderson's lack of answers and off putting attitude did not win me to his side quite yet. There's just so many questions that have never been publicly addressed by the Council or the CDG. I hope the future meetings at least treat us like adults and let us at least know what exactly is going on. For ultimately if any of the plans fail, it is we citizens stuck with the bill. Why is secrecy needed in this in the first place? Is there that much competition for the Chinese contingent to move to? We've only been told "it's sensitive." Some things just don't add up, and I hope the answers are coming soon.
Another question I'm left with is will this new International Business school be accredited with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business? Or is this one reason why NDSU has been mentioned as a potential partner because they are one of the few area schools in the area to have AACSB accreditation.
Posted by dazzlefresh (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jamie, I think you are reading their site wrong. From what I could figure, the 300 number you are citing refers to the number of students from other countries that go to their university in China. "Every year, the University receives over 300 guests from abroad, either in groups or as individual scholars, who come for academic visits." I couldn't find any numbers there for how many students from their university study abroad.
That said, for a group of businessmen (or at least a group set up to sell Fergus Falls), the CDG is doing a pretty awful job of public relations and selling this plan to the people of FF.
Posted by Josephine (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bravo hometown and betterworld!
Posted by codei (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
this is ridiculous. los angeles california, one of the major business capitals of the world, one of the major movie capitals of the world... somehow they can coexist peacefully... yet fergus farts and it's ass backwards mentality can't two completely separate deals done. does anyone even know what's involved with filming a movie? seriously, do you? i was on a movie set three days ago. granted it was independent and tom shmooze cruise was not there, either way - the mechanics are the same. it's 90% standing around. nobody was suggesting we turn the rtc into horror movie central or build roller coasters and theme rides. some crews would come in, the daily journal would relish in some movie making articles, they'd shoot their scenes, and leave. 0 disruption, and really- 0 anything interesting. what the hell does that have to do with the chinese? rick a- your contribtions and dedication are immeasurable, they really are. but this is judgement that would have landed people IN the rtc in smarter days. so lame... everyone involved should be embarassed and spanked publicly in NP park.
Posted by cheif (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 5:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The movie isn't going to happen anymore. There is no use to keep complaining about it. Move on. We should now focus on the college or a new use for the Center.
Posted by Generally_Misunderstood (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 6:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
cheif, in this instance I must agree with you. This particular movie will never occur in Fergus. Time to move on past this and think about what we can do as a community to ensure that an architectural asset does not get demolished. We must not forget the mistake that was made in judging the implications of this film project and the flimsy at best argument to support it's rejection. At election time I know that I'll not be putting forward anyone on this council that can't see past what is fiction and what is reality.
I just hope that all the answers we need as a community are forth coming.
Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 8:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
cheif, I agree, Dav Kaufman told me personally there no chance of him coming back.
now if we could get some answers on whatever college plans there are.
if not I still like the ideas I suggested.
move the public library and museum to the RTC, let the police relocate to the old library, sell off the current museum for commercial space.
and now the Viking library needs to expand also.
let them go there too.
otherwise we're going to be paying for a concrete town about the size of Elizabeth being demolished.
Jamie Cooper
Posted by theweasel (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 11:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The movie isn’t going to happen, the Chinese aren’t coming, the college isn’t going to happen, the Old State Hospital will be demolished at tax payers expense, our taxes will go up, idiots old and new will be elected to the city council, then everything will go back to exactly the way things used to be. This Fergus Falls people get used to it, it’s what we do. If you are so sure I’m wrong e-mail me with your bets and the name of a responsible third party to hold the money.
Posted by theweasel (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 11:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BTW don’t name Jamie Cooper as a third party, I wouldn’t let him hold a bag of duck poop from Lake Alice.
Posted by hightag08 (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 11:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
At least Jamie is Man enough to sign his name, weasel.
Posted by theweasel (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
and your name is hightag08?
Posted by whostruth (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know many folks who do not want the RTC be either one of these , they would like and beleive it will come to life again housing MI and DD , simply so they and their familys get good paying state jobs again, so sad!- I beleive eveyone has their own agenda, and as far as powers to be... well lots of people are afraid of them , again so sad, grow up Fergus and join 2008 in this world , we have many voices and really do not care about your games and like.....
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jamie has the ideas. Listen Fergus!
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
PS.. I would like to go to the liberary on one side at the RTC, and the museum on the other. One thing for sure, the museum would have more visitors than it does now.
Posted by ottergrad (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The council heard from the city administrator that the number one tenant in the building. The Minnesota Dept. of Health that pay hundreds of thousands per year to the city for rent for the CD unit.
They had concerns about allowing the filming in the building while they still had clients there.
The movie only had a total budget of $100,000. They would not be bringing 70 people to Fergus and the estimate for rooms and meals was reported to be $8000 for the entire movie shoot. Not over $200,000 as reported in the Journal. This is totally false.
As for the decision made by CDG, Mr. Anderson represents a group which include area colleges. I am sure their decision was based on input from the people they work with. When asked if they would like a horror movie filmed in future dormitories they declined.
The city council looking at all factors including the Dept of Health's concerns made their decision.
It was suggested to wait 60 days which probably would appease the Dept of Health but Kaufum did not want to wait that long.
The council needs to respond to the concerns of their tenant first and then look to the long term future of the rtc.
CDG has only been working with the colleges and Universities for less then 6 months. I am sure working within a educational institution things don't move as quickly as private business.
It is remarkable that a delegation traveled half way around the world to visit our community and see the facility. From all accounts they were made to feel very welcome and seem to moving forward on a first class educational institution in our community in partnership with our area colleges.
Posted by brighteyes (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the museum, the library, the RTC...the reason these places are gathering dust is simply because they are not interesting. Unless you're Kevin Costner, chances are you saw the museum once, and wouldn't go back again. with the advent and affordability of the internet, libraries are a thing of the past. As for the RTC--well, we had our chance and at least occupying the building for something progressive..You have GOT to cater to the younger generations! I don't have the idea's as to what exactly, but I am familiar with the formula.
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