There was another good turnout of residents at Monday night’s Silver Bay Council meeting. It is good to see folks showing up to ask questions and make comments about things that are happening in their town.
The agenda item that received the most public comment was the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Rocky Wall Entertainment and the city, which spells out the responsibilities and collaborative efforts of each party, to ensure the successful funding and development of the City Center Park and Amphitheater project.
The city of Silver Bay will provide land for the development of the park and amphitheater as outlined in the preliminary design proposal that was recently presented and approved by the Council. The city will also oversee applications for securing public funds necessary for the project and will manage the funds that are awarded. There are a number of possible funding sources to be pursued, including money from both the State and the IRRR. The city will have the final word regarding the overall design for the park. Phase 1 of the plan calls for the much-needed reconstruction and expansion of the city hall parking lot.
Rocky Wall Entertainment will be responsible for raising funds from corporations, foundations, and individual donors to support the project. Rocky Wall will collaborate with other nonprofit organizations to secure funds for various elements of the project. Rocky Wall Entertainment would provide support and assist the City in securing general obligation bond funding in the 2026 Minnesota Capital Budget and Bonding Bill and will act as the project developer and contract with design, engineering and construction for the City Center Park and Amphitheater, and will act as the project coordinator for the City of Silver Bay on this project by coordinating with the city engineer. The city council will be included in this process.
Based on the preliminary design, the estimated total project budget is $6,571,000, which includes an inflation escalator provided by Minnesota Management and Budget. The MOU will remain in effect until the completion of the City Center Park and Amphitheater project unless terminated by either party.
There were a number of comments from the public regarding the development of the park itself. Some residents are understandably concerned about the cost of such a venture. The Parks and Recreation Commission has reviewed the plan and has recommended that the council adopt it.
Several people asked why there has not been a public hearing or a referendum on the project. City Attorney Timothy Costley pointed out that Silver Bay is a statutory city rather than a charter city and, as such, is not required to hold public hearings or referendums on projects of this type. Council member Shane Hoff responded to the question by commenting about the number of people that he knows who have moved away from Silver Bay for cities that offer more amenities and more opportunities for employment. Council member Richard DeRosier reminded attendees at the meeting that the primary focus of the council is to find ways to improve services and utilities for the public and to attract new businesses to the area. Mayor Wade LeBlanc pointed out that when a private party like Rocky Wall comes to the council and offers to plan, seeks funding for a project, assists the city in the type of development that Silver Bay will need moving forward and offers to manage the implementation of the plan, it is a benefit to the city and its residents. He also pointed out that the project aligns with the city’s 5-year plan. The council voted to approve the MOU between the city and Rocky Wall Entertainment.
If you haven’t seen the new outdoor rink and pickleball courts by Rukavina Arena, go take a look! The facility is brought to you by $150,000 in donations and numerous hours of work by the Silver Bay Blue Line Club and volunteers.
A public hearing is scheduled for June 30th at the Reunion Hall to discuss the proposed assessment for the CSAH-32 project. The next Silver Bay Council meeting is scheduled for July 7th at 7:00 PM.
