These Gentlemen are to be commended for committing to spend their money this way.

How else would YOU read this - these two items, click to enlarge and read, first paragraph of first page; and second page, a letter between four individuals - or just read on.




The first item is from city staff to council. The second item is between four individuals, laying out their mutual committments. Mr. Deal and Mr. Martinson, writing Mr. Enger and Mr. Gump (the four horsemen of the apocalyspe, or whoever, four individuals, willing to spend their money as they describe).

Wow.

The private letter says:

We [Deal and Martinson] agree with you [Enger and Gump] that there are four critical components that will help advance Ramsey Town Center to its optimum potential.

1 There has to be a public private partnership which will work together to achieve their common goal. This means a defined relationship with the City of Ramsey.
2 The transportation system is critical to the success of the retail component. Armstrong Boulevard and its design including an overpass over the rail road tracks is a key component. It ensures that any traffic can safely move over the rail road tracks at any time to access Ramsey Town Center.
3 The Northstar Commuter Rail needs to designate a station at Ramsey Town Center immediately. Every potential business or resident asks this as their number one question. [Actually, my number one question is why throw good money after bad on a failed venture, not whether Danny's train stops in Ramsey or not - so they're wrong, not everyone's "number one question" goes their way - AND my number two question is always who is going to pay how much to gain what - but these guys must think differently.]
4 The realignment of Highway Ten along the BNSF rail line will add exposure and access to the successful completion of this development.

These are four of the more critical components that we discussed and believe are needed to advance the current Ramsey Town Center plan.

Again, wow.

These four guys are committing their own wealth to road improvements, building a rail station, and then partnering with the City, somehow in a way they decline to flesh out.

So, my only question, with them picking up the tab for those things they write of, what is it they would expect of the city in such a "public - private" partnership as they envision?

Or am I misunderstanding something?

Isn't there only one way to read their letter, a committment between two sets of Developers? A Crabgrass contract, of sorts.

What else would they have in mind?