A letter to the editor appeared in the July 21 edition of the Chanhassen Villager. See below.

COMMENTARY

Baseball stadium planning is ‘razzle dazzle’

By Mark Senn

School District 112 and the city of Chanhassen are incorporating the sporting practice of “razzle-dazzle” on their latest and greatest idea.

The definition of “razzle-dazzle” in sports refers to making the game or play complex with the intent to confuse. While their overall plan is inappropriate, it is ironic they have chosen this methodology to confuse the taxpayers relating to the new baseball field at the new high school.
First, the school district sought and received approximately $96 million for the new high school and facilities from the taxpayers of School District 112, which only includes about half of Chanhassen but I will come back to that later.

Evidently, even in this tough economy, the school district is not able to live within their meager budget of $96 million, thus devising a plan a couple of months ago to go to the city of Chanhassen, another separate taxing jurisdiction, to get the city to kick in $600,000 of city taxpayer money toward the ball field. The rationale was that more bigger and better stadium bleachers and lights would maybe allow the use of and formation of a town baseball team. Don’t forget the community already has a right to use these facilities since they paid for them.

Town teams are usually put together privately and are supported through contributions, revenues and sponsorships, not the city. A big part of revenue is concessions, including beer sales. While the law allows such on school property with a special permit, how appropriate a message does it send to allow beer sales on school grounds, where, by the way, there is a zero or no-tolerance policy toward the use of tobacco products. What’s wrong with this picture and the common sense of those even suggesting such a thing?

The City Council flatly and appropriately turned them down. Why should funds from the city of Chanhassen taxing authority — whose residents are split between the School District 112 and the Minnetonka School District — go to benefit just School District 112?

This “razzle-dazzle” move intended to confuse the taxpayers failed. I guess the Minnetonka School District should ask for $600,000 for something just to keep things even. If these improvements were a priority for the school district, then the $600,000 should have been incorporated into their already $96 million spending budget. Evidently, the school district and the Chanhassen mayor were not satisfied with this result. So they met to come up with new and different rationale that might make more sense or at least maybe be more popular. The mayor brought the superintendent to a City Council work session not before the cameras or full public view.

Miraculously, this item is back on the Chanhassen City Council agenda for approval on Monday, July 28. By the way, it is under the consent agenda so it means that Mayor proposes it not even be discussed. This is in keeping with what the Villager previously reported that the mayor and School District superintendent made a “political handshake” on the deal and implied or said it was a done deal.

“Razzle-dazzle” once again. I thought we were done with this. I for one can’t wait to see what the new rationale is. It seems kind of funny that the school district, which really seems to want these added improvements for their use without using part of their $96 million, is still trying to come up with rationale for another taxing jurisdiction and keeps changing it until they hit it right, no pun intended.

I am sure it will once again be under the guise of community use of the new high school and facilities even though the community already has that inherent right since they paid for it anyway.
We elect school board members and are supposed to hold them responsible for schools and school spending. We elect city leaders to hold accountable for city services, facilities and spending. How can you hold any of them accountable when they start co-mingling statutory taxing and spending authorities. It’s all “razzle-dazzle to confuse the taxpayers and spend more. The school district should be freely opening their doors to the community to create more community participation.

Call or e-mail your City Council people now before it is too late.

Senn is a Chanhassen resident.