Homeless Shelter Proposal Faces Opposition at Dakota County Board Meeting
The proposal to convert Norwood Inn and Suites in Eagan into a homeless shelter hit a roadblock at the Dakota County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday evening. The meeting was packed with concerned citizens, many of whom expressed their worries about the potential consequences of such a shelter in their neighborhood.
One of the neighbors, David Ansari, the owner of Ansari’s Mediterranean Grill & Lounge, spoke at the meeting, highlighting the increase in crime and drug activity in the area in recent years. He expressed his concerns that a homeless shelter would only exacerbate the existing problems.
To address safety concerns, county officials assured attendees that the hotel would have 24/7 security and that the shelter would operate on a referral basis rather than allowing drop-ins. Additionally, only 55 units of the facility would be used to house individuals in need. However, despite these assurances, the county faced pushback regarding their plan to apply for a $10 million grant towards the $24 million project.
Following the discussions, all five commissioners voted against moving forward with the proposal. They argued that the plan felt rushed and lacked support from the community. Commissioner Liz Workman stated her long-standing opposition to the location, emphasizing her support for finding an alternative shelter site. Commissioner Mike Slavik echoed her sentiments, stating that he would prefer to have a room full of allies rather than rushing into a decision with a divisive “us against them” mentality.
The decision to reject the proposal has left the issue of homelessness unresolved in Dakota County. As the community continues to grapple with this issue, alternative solutions will need to be explored to provide support and assistance to those in need.
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Original Story at kstp.com – 2023-09-20 06:04:17