Frederick Van Magness: In Moultonborough, please vote yes on CruCon purchase

To The Daily Sun,

On Saturday, March 14, voters will have a chance to say yes on the purchase of the former CruCon facility. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire an existing world-class building, constructed with the finest materials, at a dramatically reduced price.

Our selectboard and all town departments are laser focused on this acquisition to solve countless functional issues. CruCon provides a Community Center with an incredible commercial kitchen, extensive meeting areas, significant recreation program expansion, and town office space located in one building at zero taxpayer cost. Yes, zero cost. Not a single penny increase in property taxes.

Since 2008, over 17 years, at least eight major articles to fund or rehabilitate our current function hall, costing as much as $15.9 million in 2023, have all been voted down at Town Meeting. The CruCon purchase provides a one-time fantastic opportunity to solve countless Community Center facility needs, expand and enhance space for seniors and recreation programs, and upgrade town offices without massive building construction costs.

Will relocating town hall impact our “village vision?" No. Frankly, despite recommendations from numerous studies, for the last 10 years, nothing has been done to improve our “village vision." Will exiting traffic be a problem? CruCon and their 150-200 employees survived. While seasonal traffic on Route 25 can be difficult, all businesses fronting Route 25 have this issue, and the town is already exploring with NHDOT possible traffic solutions. Let’s deal with facts, not negative emotions and misinformation.

Don’t let this exceptional once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip away. If this is voted down, the option is to continue endless divisive debate and, in the end, go without … for years. The choice is abundantly clear. Let’s finally come together and rise above 17 years of non-productive quibbling. Vote yes.

Frederick Van Magness

Moultonborough