by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
The members of DogPAC in Sartell should feel free to visit the Sartell City Council to share concerns, to give project updates or to make requests.
That was a somewhat indirect invitation that resulted from a discussion at the last city-council meeting.
Council member Amy Braig-Lindstrom told the council volunteer members of DogPAC (a tongue-in-cheek designation for Dog Park political-action committee) have been using their own money to pay for marketing and fundraising. That group is currently trying to raise funds to build a chain-link fence around land the city has granted in north Pinecone Central Park for a dog park. About $50,000 to $60,000 is needed for the fence, according to DogPAC.
Months ago, the city council agreed to give $10,000 toward the project, money that would come from the city’s capital fund via a slight increase in the cost of dog-license fees. Braig-Lindstrom said many residents think they city has already contributed that $10,000 to the dog park, which can make fundraising problematic. Giving the $10,000 now to DogPAC might help “fast-track” the fundraising efforts, said Braig-Lindstrom. She then requested the council put the dog-park issue on a future city-council agenda so council members could discuss it again and clarify dog-park-related issues.
The rest of the council (member David Peterson was not present) declined to put “dog park” on a future agenda, feeling that it is not necessary.
Council member Sarah Jane Nicoll said she is willing to consider giving DogPAC, say, $2,000 of the $10,000 allocated amount for advertising to promote fundraising but not the whole amount. If DogPAC members want to come to the council to make such a request or other request, they should feel free to do so, Nicoll said.
