TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE MUNICIPAL PARK GRANTS COMMISSION FOR ST. LOUIS COUNTY, THE MAYOR OF UNIVERSITY CITY JOE ADAMS, AND U-CITY COUNCILMEMBERS ROBERT WAGNER, STEPHANIE BROT, AND LYNN RICCI:

We voting residents of St. Louis County hereby request that you temporarily halt all plans for the construction of a golf driving range at Ruth Park Golf Course until further study can be completed. We realize that University City is desperate for money to assist with its deficit. However, your current proposal will not achieve that goal. Experts familiar with the golf driving range industry, have reviewed the current proposal and determined the proposal lacks appropriate plans and specifications and will in fact cost U-City tens of thousands of dollars more than anticipated, that the ongoing maintenance costs have not been properly calculated, for example insurance premiums will be in the tens of thousands of dollars, and that the employment costs have been grossly underestimated. As a result, the current proposal will not result in a profit. It will result in further deficits. Most importantly, the experts have determined the proposal will render Ruth Park unsafe for golfers, driving range customers, and surrounding residents.

Additionally - to the Grant Commissioners: We did not vote to use our sales tax money to pay for Commercial Enterprises. A Commercial Enterprise is not a "park improvement." A grant under these circumstances would be illegal. Please stop now.

PLEASE DO NOT DESTROY RUTH PARK AND COMPOUND YOUR BUDGET DEFICITS BEFORE YOU DISCOVER WHAT A MISTAKE YOU MADE. AS STEWARDS OF OUR TAXPAYER MONEY, IT IS YOUR OBLIGATION TO STOP NOW, RETAIN AN EXPERT, COMPLETE THE PROPER STUDIES, AND THEN ASK THE VOTERS.