Bradbury Township

Mille Lacs News

8/31/2007

The Way I See It

The Mille Lacs Academy Article

    In response to the "Mille Lacs Academy plans take shape" article of August 29, first of all, I'd like to thank Vivian Clark for the pleasant telephone interview (and for quoting me correctly!)

     However, there are a couple of things in the article that are incorrect, which I'd like to point out. Please note that the academy staff is not "based primarily in or near the city of Onamia". Most employees commute from places outside of the area, such as Brainerd, Little Falls, Aitkin, St. Cloud, Minneapolis, etc. There are actually relatively few local employees.

     Although it is correct that myself - as well as the neighbors whose homes abut the proposed site - are opposed to the location, it should be noted that there are many, many people who don't want the sex offenders in our community. In fact, over 90 individuals signed a Petition stating their objections to the relocation of the academy. Most of these signatures represent families in Bradbury Township or in the immediate vicinity of the proposed site. There is a lot more opposition to Nexus than was alluded to in the article. Our strong opposition has been totally ignored by Nexus and the Onamia city council. They move on as if they are deaf and we are invisible. I just wanted to clarify that.

      I didn't realize that Jim D'Angelo spent so much time in the Mille Lacs area.  Who has he talked to? He certainly doesn't talk to us. I don't know where he goes, but everywhere I go, I hear the opposite: people tell me they don't want Nexus to stay. But if Nexus stays, they want them to pay their taxes. A lot of folks are upset about the tax abatement issue.

     The last thing I need to correct is Jim D'Angelo's assumption that we will all "sit back and look at how beautiful it is..."  What arrogance! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This isn't Golden Valley. That ugly sex offender facility will forever be an eyesore in our rural community. We won't wonder "what all the fuss" is about. We know. We will never forget. And we will never forgive.

J.J. Swift

Bradbury Township Resident

Mille Lacs Academy plans take shape

The City of Onamia is planning to circumvent tax laws by proceeding with a conditional contract with NEXUS. If NEXUS commits to building on the 38 acres, Onamia will commit to granting them tax abatement.

THIS IS WRONG!

It means that the city council plans to do whatever it wants, regardless of how it affects their citizens' welfare.