 We're on a roll. That's what Bemidji Mayor Rita Albright said during her State of the City address tonight, citing the city of Bemidji's recent honors and awards, the mayor recapped the last year and shared her vision for 2018. The mayor's narrative focused on subjects ranging from the Carnegie Library renovation to the Royal Corridor Project. She also spoke on the ongoing pursuit of a proposed hospitality tax to support the Sanford Events Center, and continued discussions about a wellness center. This goal has always been to provide property tax reduction. Because 48 percent of the properties in the city are tax-exempt, taxes fall heavily on the taxable properties. This seems particularly unfair when the center was promoted and built as a regional amenity that serves a broader constituency far beyond Bemidji. A hospitality tax is a way to expand support to visitors at lodging, food and beverage outlets. Mayor Albright also spoke about the continued work on preparing the city of Bemidji for hosting Hockey Day Minnesota next year. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.