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Perfect storm against the Fairmont Area Community Center To the Editor: The article in the Sentinel on Saturday, Dec. 2 about taxes going up on residential properties brings to mind what the tax impact for the full Fairmont Area Community Center (FACC) would be on our residential taxes? I have been following the back and forth of pros and cons on the issue. Something I haven’t seen was a projection or estimate of what the cost of building and maintaining the full FACC would be on local property taxes. I guess we all know our property taxes are going up to the tune of 20 to 30 ...

Readers' Views

Letters to the Editor

A vote with no explanation To the Editor: How sad it is to know that 3 members of our city council, with no explanations for their vote, can strike down the hard work of a group of people with a vision to help Fairmont grow. The proposed Community Center/YMCA would have been a facility for all people young and old to utilize year around if they chose to do so. Yes, Fairmont has 5 lakes, lots of parks, an aquatic park, etc., but most of these amenities can only be utilized in the summer months. We can build a multi-million dollar water treatment plant, a multi-million dollar ...

Readers' Views

Letters to the Editor

‘A sad time indeed’ To the Editor: Well, Fairmont, it looks like you did it again. Rather than support something to improve our City and ensure its future, you chose to save a couple of dollars instead. Figuratively speaking, of course. It seems that anytime something good comes regarding the future survival of our pretty little town, the elderly “on the way out” group finds a way to say “not with my money” or “we don’t need it.” I’m certainly not young anymore (64) but can attest that most in attendance at Monday night’s council meeting were older. One councilor ...

Et. Cetera

Local Editorials

HVAC program teaches new skills Fairmont Area Schools has a new HVAC program this year. The program is housed in the high school’s new vocational building and is taught by Adam Carstensen. What a great program to help fill the future shortage of vocational workers, especially in the HVAC area. It’s nice to see the district and community working together to provide opportunities like this to our youth. Council talks community center future It was disappointing to see the action some city council members and city leaders took Monday in regards to the community center’s next ...

Readers' Views

Letters to the Editor

No more community center, no more special Tax To the Editor: The recent decision by the Fairmont City Council to scrap plans for a community center is, at best, short-sighted. The city council cites “big expenses” coming up in the city’s future. Were these expenses not considered when they committed to the community center in the first place? There will ALWAYS be big expenditures. So much of FACC’s efforts were completed because they believed that the city stood solidly behind them. The city’s inability to appropriately plan for long-term budgeting and expenditures, prior to ...

Readers' Views

Letters to the Editor

Years of hard work now erased To the Editor: In a matter of minutes, COUNCILORS MILLER, HASEK & PETERS erase YEARS of HARD work, COMMUNITY SUPPORT and THE CITY’S commitment to a new community center. For years, the Fairmont community has desired, discussed, and made plans for a new community center. The latest effort included the components required to finally make it happen: a City commitment of $14 million, private donations totaling $6 million, the YMCA as an operating partner, a shared goal for a new ice arena, hired experts to assist with applying for state and federal funds, ...