by Zach Miller
Quick Summary
A planning effort to build a new library and community center that leaned heavily on public listening sessions and a mayor-appointed citizen task force bore fruit this November, as the citizens of Moorhead overwhelmingly approved the project at the ballot box.
This November, Moorhead voters approved a new 0.5% city sales tax to fund the construction of a new community center and public library. Nearly two in three voters supported the measure. The project will be managed by the City of Moorhead, the Moorhead City Council, and a citizen task force appointed by Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carson.
In the wake of the 'yes' vote, Mayor Carson shared her excitement about the project. "A new community center and public library will serve as the cornerstone of downtown redevelopment and give our citizens a gathering place and information space for generations to come," she said.
The additional tax is expected to yield revenue in excess of $1.6 million per year while setting back the average resident of Moorhead just $2 per month. The tax is planned to take effect in April 2023.
Project planning included public listening sessions where citizens voiced their hopes for the project. The most-supported hopes included collaborative space, a walking track, an indoor play area, hands-on learning, and green spaces. The mayor's citizen task force also laid out a vision:
- A community center where people can gather and connect
- A regional library to meet information needs
- A place where ideas and dreams take shape
- A central, downtown location
For more information, see Moorhead Public Library's Facebook page, the City of Moorhead's Community Center/Regional Library page, and Lake Agassiz Regional Library's news release.
