We are part of The Trust Project.
In April 2019, Chippewa County and city of Montevideo officials voted to build a public-owned fitness center — called CCM Wellness Center, even with four private clubs already in the city. Spending $3.1 million of the citizens' money to attack private businesses is the purest example of socialism.
When the public officials had a project presentation, guarantees were made of paying back the citizens $3.1 million.
Citizens were told to ignore CCM Wellness Center's failed profits in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID. However, in the third year in 2022, the center is to lose another $125,000 but was supposed to pay back $224,000.
The organization is $350,000 behind this non-Covid year. Chippewa County citizens, you will never see your money paid back. Citizens, time to call this note.
The CCM Wellness Center claims 1,300 members, but their forecast shows a break-even at 556 members. Why is CCM Wellness Center still losing the money?
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The organization gives out free memberships, while others pay $40-$80 per month. So who should be upset, the 12,600 Chippewa County citizens who will never be paid back $3.1 million, or the person paying $80 per month working out next to the free riders?
Socialism is a horrible thing. County Commissioners Dave Lieser and Matt Gilbertson, City Council Members Nathan Schmidt, Bryce Curtis, Dan Sanborn, and Steve Sulflow voted for this failing project and should publicly apologize for rushing to spend $3.1 million.
We begged these officials in 2019 for a 30-day delay to allow for a possible blending of the fitness, fine art, student care center.
So now we know socialism fails, let’s fix this.
Cut the fitness center in half. Use 10 percent of the facility for Dialysis, 40 percent for community daycare. And make every member pay their way. I appreciate a nurse might like a free perk, but so would a teacher? Socialism is messy.
Please support the CCMH doctors, nurses, staff with your medical dollars as they are doing a great job, and this is not on them.
Kevin Wald
Montevideo
