Cottage Grove board ends option to buy Learning Ladder, keeps room tax at 8% and approves swim‑school addition

The Village of Cottage Grove Board on April 7 met in person at Village Hall and by Zoom and took a series of land‑use, budgeting and ordinance actions, including terminating the village's option to buy the Learning Ladder property, keeping the room‑tax rate at 8 percent and approving a 3,000‑square‑foot accessory building for Dolphin Swim Academy.

Board members discussed the Learning Ladder option first after staff said the village held an option to buy the property for $1,400,000 with an April 26 deadline to exercise it. Staff presented the board with the choice to buy the property, continue evaluating alternative uses (including a community center or a parks-and‑recreation location) or let the option lapse. After discussion about the short time available to complete the financial and operational feasibility work, a board member moved to terminate the option; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

Why it matters: terminating the option frees the village from having to exercise the purchase by April 26 but also means the property would return to the open market unless the village negotiates a later purchase. Board members asked staff to prepare cost and operating estimates should the village later decide to pursue the site for parks and recreation or a community center.

The board also considered a tourism and room‑tax request from the Comfort Suites hotel and the tourism commission. Tourism contractor reports showed the village collected about $136,000 in room tax in 2024; roughly 70 percent (approximately $95,301) is earmarked for the chamber/tourism activities under the village’s existing agreement. The tourism commission recommended consideration of reducing the rate from 8 percent to 7 percent to try to increase occupancy; tourism representatives said the change would be roughly $1–$2 per night…