One of the hardest things for The Minot Voice editorial board to reconcile with our support of the MARC project is the introduction of the Park District as an operator in marketplaces that have traditionally been the domain of private business.
Minot has several privately owned health and fitness clubs, we have a hotel that has invested in a water park, and we have a few bars that are providing golf simulators. And if you have any experience running a business, you know that competing against a player with a seemingly unlimited checking account and no need to earn a profit won’t be easy.
Would a successful MARC vote mean the end of these businesses? We have too much respect for small business owners and their ability to innovate to make that assumption, but we also have no doubt that it will make operating in their present form harder and a lot less fun. Should we expect some changes if the MARC enters the marketplace? We’d be naive not to.
So, if you’re a supporter of the MARC project and plan on voting yes — when you go to the polls make sure you acknowledge and understand what your vote means. A yes vote may very well be good for Minot, but its effect on a few lives and livelihoods may be very different.
