Community Bowl Brings Debate

In just three and a half weeks, voters will decide the outcome of a funding proposal for a new mu...  More »

In just three and a half weeks, voters will decide the outcome of a funding proposal for a new multi-sport facility known as Minot's Community Bowl. The Community Bowl Committee decided on a funding plan where the current one-cent city sales tax normally devoted to the Northwest Area Water Supply project would be split in half. Half would continue to go to NAWS. The other half would go to fund the Community Bowl for three years, until about nine million dollars had been raised. Backers of the plan held a press conference today to recognize the various community organizations that have given their support to the Community Bowl over the past few weeks and months. Community Bowl committee members believe the bowl could be a big factor in Minot's success for many years to come... (Rod Romine, Community Bowl Committee ) While Minot has some great facilities, including the Minot State University dome, the Municipal Auditorium, and the All-Seasons Arena, the groups and individuals here today agree that the Community Bowl would make a real difference to the experiences of children in this area, and enhance the attractiveness of our community. The committee estimates the facility will cost 11-million dollars. Nine million would come from the sales tax, while the other two million would be raised privately. But a group calling itself NAWS Only is opposing the funding plan. Ron Kramer, president of the Ward County Farmers Union and a member of the NAWS Only group says the NAWS project is too important to divert funding for any other purpose. NAWS Only says a more appropriate source for raising money for the Community Bowl would be the MAGIC Fund, local schools, and Minot State University. NAWS Only is holding a press conference tomorrow to explain its opposition. The funding question will be on the June ballot as Measure Two.  « Less