As a concerned citizen of Mandan I need to address my displeasure concerning the Community Center abandonment by the city of Mandan and the role of the city commissioners in that process. It is my intent to express the disappointment that I have concerning this decision by the Mandan City Commission.

While I am not an expert on the history behind the Community Center, I have been a member since the mid-’80s of the pool and fitness center. I have benefited from that membership and considered it a good example of programs that could be offered by the park district and the city in general. I like the Community Center and have been impressed with the idea behind the building and the location of the building.

When the Community Center was started, it was a multifunctional building housing both the National Guard and the pool with a gym. That use has been transformed over the years into a building that is now used and funded by the park district, the city and the school district. What has now transpired is a sad end to that great idea. The first step of this process was when the city commissioners decided to abandon the building and offered it to the park district for $1.

Let’s be clear about this, the city commission started this whole process with their initial action of abandonment. What followed was a series of decisions by the park and school district. The park district accepted the building but has now relinquished the ownership of the building to the school district. The end result of this mismanagement is what effect it has had on the population of Mandan and the thousands of Community Center members that are now displaced and displeased.

The city commission has failed miserably. How this mess will be fixed is not yet clear, but I am sure that two things will come out of the current situation: one, the city commission, along with the city administration, will proceed with the overall plan to build a event center downtown. A plan that is flawed and without merit. And I am also certain that part of that plan to build the new event center was the direct reason for the abandonment of the Community Center.

The city commission has abandoned the only event center in Mandan for a pipe dream. The reality is a new event center was not ever needed. The event center we had was never promoted to the extent that was needed to generate sufficient income. The second thing to come out of the current situation is that I will personally fight every action the City Commission attempts to build a new event center. I will seek every avenue of influence to kill this stupid idea as it will be nothing more than a huge drain on the taxpayers of Mandan.

Richard S. Tentis, Mandan