Skate park editorial

From Milford Village Councilman Jim Kovach:

I must admit that when I first read your editorial in support of the Milford Skate Park, I thought it was an attempt to be funny, and exaggerate the specious reasons to support this proposal. Upon review, I realized you were actually serious with these “benefits.” Your arguments in support of this proposal need to be placed in perspective:

• It is estimated that over the first four years, this proposal will raise over $750,000 in taxpayer money to pay for the proposed skate “garden” and accompanying “viewing and picnic areas.” However, nobody knows the exact costs of providing this proposal and these features. There have been no firm proposals or quotations for the design and build of this park. The backers of this tax have decided that they did not want to invest any money in coming up with these numbers until after they could be guaranteed taxpayer money. Basically, this proposal is asking for a 20-year blank check, in which the voters may or may not get anything close to what is promised.

• It is also stated that this skate park may “draw people from around the state and country.” This argument was used for the development of the Vans’ skate park in Novi (since closed and demolished), and the Meijer skate park in Brighton (which was closed for almost 2 years due to lack of funding and interest). One must also wonder why Milford taxpayers would find any benefit that their tax dollars are being spent to potentially have attendees “stay in local hotels” (there are none in Milford Township), or to “buy gas from local gas stations” (I think we all pay enough already at these gas stations).

• I am impressed by your almost child-like belief that private donors will continue to contribute after a 20 year millage is put in place, and government will voluntarily reduce the amount of money they have been authorized to collect from the taxpayers. This disconnect from the real world is charming, though totally unrealistic.

The concept of the skate park is a wonderful idea, but when it was initially proposed (8 years ago), there was going to be no cost to the taxpayers. However, it has morphed into a proposal that would now cost over a million dollars over the life of the millage. It’s unfair to further burden the taxpayers to appease such a small group of residents.