EDINA
Thumbs-down for warming-house plan Last week, the Edina City Council rejected resident Carolyn Kohrs' $500,000 donation to replace an old warming house in Lewis Park.
Kohr's proposal, which surfaced last fall, initially would have allowed her to operate a concession stand in the building for 10 years, keeping the profits. Recently, she changed her offer and was willing to donate all proceeds back to the park.
In more than an hour of testimony, about 30 residents lobbied for and against the proposal. Some said it was a creative way to rejuvenate an aging facility while others objected to noise and lights and said the stand could undermine nearby shops and restaurants.
The proposal needed four of the five council votes to pass. Joni Bennett and Linda Masica voted against it.
GREENFIELD
Referendum expenses are snag for charter Some of the debate over Greenfield's charter -- which, if approved by residents, would be its constitution -- has focused on money.
Parts of the draft charter would allow residents to vote on spending limits and in other referendums. Enacting the charter would require a majority vote in a general or special election. But how much would it cost to hold these votes?
In meetings, commission members have guessed that a special election would cost about $1,000. But city employees have different numbers.
If residents vote in person at a polling place, an election could cost almost $3,000, said Audra Etzel, the city's deputy clerk, who has been studying the issue. A mail-in election could cost $6,800 to $7,400.
