Friday, February 25, 2005
City Celebrates Degradation
Faremount. Since it's establishment in 1857, the city of Faremount his prided itself in it's inability to prosper and still remain a registered town in Minnesota. From it's humble beginings as a settlement founded on the slaughter of the Winnebago Indians, to now. "Our founding fathers thought they were Lakota Souix during the uprising, and they were different than us, so we took them out. We can't dwell on the mistakes of our past." states Moon Valley Historian Valerie Buttercup.
Faremount was a bustling railroad town, and also rich in pork production and soybeans and corn. They also utilized the 5 chains of lakes in the middle of the city limits. "We had an amusement park on the lake, and beautiful passenger boats that would take tourists on a lakeview tour of the city."
There was also a wonderful youth center that housed dances and games for the kids. It was right next to the police station and was supervised by the officers off duty.
Faremount Tamper, the number one company that produces railroad tracks, is the area's biggest employer.
All that has changed now. The Amusement Park has since been dismantled. The city council proposed to open an Aquatic Park in a different location, the citizens voted against one wanting a park utilizing the lakes, and the city built the aquatic park anyways. The park is only open for 2 hours a day, 3 days a week, and only for a month during the summer depending on the weather. Season passes are only $95.
The Youth Center has been closed down due to lack of interest by the adults. "I don't have time to help with something like that." One parent said as they went off to karaoke night at Shanindoah's Cheer and Chow. One youth has tried to hold benifit concerts from local musicians to help fund the project of a new youth center, but was turned down by the city council.
Commerce in Faremount has also fallen. There was a proposal by the University of Minnesota to open a junior college on the lake. The city council denied that as stating they wanted this to be a retirement community, and did not want the "college element" in their town.
City economist Spike Humbal says, "We brought in the 5 Lakes Central Mall to remove the drive-in theater and to take business away from the Downtown local merchants. It's been a successful program. Now, there are 5 businesses in the Downtown market area that have went out of business, and now there are 4 stores in the mall that are empty due to the rent being too high. We on the council are going for that pioneer 'ghost town' look and are being very successful at it."
In the wake of these changes, the city has also let a bid to keep Faremount Tamper in Faremount go. There has been a large layoff as the company is moving to South Carolina now.
"Just think of the revenue for the local bar establishments now that the town is becoming depressed." Humbal adds. The employee count is now 32 from 371.
In a joint venture with local law enforcement, they are now running a huge sweep for drunk drivers. "It won't be long now, the drinking establishments will either raise drink prices or go under. Then, the public will be forced to buy alcohol at the Municipal Liquor store and drink at home which is more money for the city." Humble says.
Also, in an effort to make the lakes cleaner, the city has pumped chemicals into the lakes to clear up the algae. The lakes are still greenish brown and give the local tap water a distinct smell, but it's the effort that counts. In an unrelated survey, Faremount has the largest number of cancer victums per capita. Coincidentally, Faremount also has the largest number of police officers per capita in Minnesota.
City council woman Jules Undersen said in a recent board meeting that it was the council's job to look at having companies open their businesses here and offering a higher pay scale. Other council members decided that removing the "Jake" in the "No Jake Braking in City Limits" sign, as the Jake Brake company felt like it was being labelled was a bigger priority.
Critics of the councils business have mysteriously disappeared. Council member Stu Pidasso stated, "I don't understand why we're being criticized, at least they can sleep at night without worrying about Jake braking through our quiet little town."
the sign located just north of town on Hwy 15/State Street now reads "No Engine Braking in City Limits."
Faremount was a bustling railroad town, and also rich in pork production and soybeans and corn. They also utilized the 5 chains of lakes in the middle of the city limits. "We had an amusement park on the lake, and beautiful passenger boats that would take tourists on a lakeview tour of the city."
There was also a wonderful youth center that housed dances and games for the kids. It was right next to the police station and was supervised by the officers off duty.
Faremount Tamper, the number one company that produces railroad tracks, is the area's biggest employer.
All that has changed now. The Amusement Park has since been dismantled. The city council proposed to open an Aquatic Park in a different location, the citizens voted against one wanting a park utilizing the lakes, and the city built the aquatic park anyways. The park is only open for 2 hours a day, 3 days a week, and only for a month during the summer depending on the weather. Season passes are only $95.
The Youth Center has been closed down due to lack of interest by the adults. "I don't have time to help with something like that." One parent said as they went off to karaoke night at Shanindoah's Cheer and Chow. One youth has tried to hold benifit concerts from local musicians to help fund the project of a new youth center, but was turned down by the city council.
Commerce in Faremount has also fallen. There was a proposal by the University of Minnesota to open a junior college on the lake. The city council denied that as stating they wanted this to be a retirement community, and did not want the "college element" in their town.
City economist Spike Humbal says, "We brought in the 5 Lakes Central Mall to remove the drive-in theater and to take business away from the Downtown local merchants. It's been a successful program. Now, there are 5 businesses in the Downtown market area that have went out of business, and now there are 4 stores in the mall that are empty due to the rent being too high. We on the council are going for that pioneer 'ghost town' look and are being very successful at it."
In the wake of these changes, the city has also let a bid to keep Faremount Tamper in Faremount go. There has been a large layoff as the company is moving to South Carolina now.
"Just think of the revenue for the local bar establishments now that the town is becoming depressed." Humbal adds. The employee count is now 32 from 371.
In a joint venture with local law enforcement, they are now running a huge sweep for drunk drivers. "It won't be long now, the drinking establishments will either raise drink prices or go under. Then, the public will be forced to buy alcohol at the Municipal Liquor store and drink at home which is more money for the city." Humble says.
Also, in an effort to make the lakes cleaner, the city has pumped chemicals into the lakes to clear up the algae. The lakes are still greenish brown and give the local tap water a distinct smell, but it's the effort that counts. In an unrelated survey, Faremount has the largest number of cancer victums per capita. Coincidentally, Faremount also has the largest number of police officers per capita in Minnesota.
City council woman Jules Undersen said in a recent board meeting that it was the council's job to look at having companies open their businesses here and offering a higher pay scale. Other council members decided that removing the "Jake" in the "No Jake Braking in City Limits" sign, as the Jake Brake company felt like it was being labelled was a bigger priority.
Critics of the councils business have mysteriously disappeared. Council member Stu Pidasso stated, "I don't understand why we're being criticized, at least they can sleep at night without worrying about Jake braking through our quiet little town."
the sign located just north of town on Hwy 15/State Street now reads "No Engine Braking in City Limits."
