County urged to donate Artesia building

This letter is to support the Artesia Youth Park on Loxley Road. When JoJean Thompson first started her venture to find an appropriate building and site for a children's activity center in our community, I felt convinced to help her in my capacity. At that time, I gave the Roscommon Road Commission my opinion that the property they owned and that she was interested in had potentially little value to anyone else and the likelihood of selling this was small. It had already sat empty for over five years and the commission's attempts to sell it were not successful. I felt our government should contribute this property for the benefit of this non-profit organization to provide a safe, healthy environment for our children to enjoy a variety of activities. This was not approved. So it was then negotiated to purchase the property and over the last several years, the Artesia Youth Park has improved the property through grants, donations, contributions, and much thankful help from our citizens. It has thrived to become a place for the children of our community to gather and grow in their mind, body and spirit. And it is not a deteriorating empty building.

But it has not been easy. Rising costs for energy and other expenses make the mortgage payment very difficult. If it is not adjusted or eliminated, we may see yet another empty piece of real estate become more dilapidated and depressed as our economy becomes more distressed. And where will our children go? Do we have any alternative place for them?

I urge the Roscommon Road Commission and our community to "give back" to our community by contributing this property to the Artesia Youth Park entirely. Our government has been given so much from the taxpayer's money in recent years. We can see the new government buildings spread out in our county, while older commercial buildings are not being used and left empty to continue to depreciate. I believe our community will support this donation. I trust the Road Commission will follow our community's wishes. So much good can come from this small gift.
sValerie Wysack
Associate Broker
Re/Max of Higgins Lake, Houghton Lake
Branch

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