Ness Hosts First Ever Town Hall Forum
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DULUTH - Monday evening, Duluthians got up close with Mayor Don Ness to get their questions answered.
Ness held his first ever town hall forum, not to announce his future plans, but instead to connect with his community.
People asked questions about a lot of different topics from streets to the housing stock all the way to his personal life.
A big topic was the controversial $5 street fee which was passed by Duluth’s city council in late June.
Mayor Ness said after losing $6 million in revenue from the Fond-du-Luth Casino something needed to be done to pay for repairs, and the fee is just the first step in finding a permanent solution.
He said the fee will only pay for a fraction of the millions of dollars in work that needs to be done.
"Nobody likes to pay more. Nobody likes fees,” Ness said. “Nobody likes increased taxes, but it's a first step to say that we need to do a better job on our streets."
Ness says Duluth’s street condition along with the lack of housing could be driving people away from moving to the city.
He said young professionals looking for a place to live don't have many options.
He also recognized what he thinks is an inequality gap.
He says some minority groups don't have the resources to get hired for available jobs in construction or factory work.
"Let's reach out to communities of color,” Ness said. “Let's reach out to women and say despite what your perception is of those jobs, there is opportunity."
In hopes to create more housing, the mayor has been looking into converting old buildings in Duluth’s downtown into efficiency apartments which he says are ideal for young professionals coming in.
Ness also talked about a few projects that are up in the air like the possibility for a rail line connecting Duluth to Minneapolis and what the city plans to do with Lester Park Golf Course.
The mayor did not comment on running for a second term.