The Monday, March 12 Rushford Council meeting was slated to have a smaller than average agenda, but a last minute addition took up the bulk of the meeting and brought forth a number of concerns from the council regarding a recent Rushford-Peterson School Board decision.
February 26, R-P School Board approved a proposal facilitating discussions for future development of the former elementary and high school buildings. The site was vacated by the district August of last year when the district moved into a new early-childhood through grade twelve facility. In late 2017, utilities to the site were turned off, a move that R-P Facilities Committee and School Board Member Dean Mierau noted at that meeting the committee should have been apprised of prior.
The proposals considered by the district came from David Kane, Senior Architect at Widseth Smith Nolting, of Rochester. Option A included the more formal RFP and RFQ process, including region wide distribution, and was estimated to take 90-120 days and a not-to-exceed cost $15,000. Option B was direct consideration of two identified local developers, who have expressed verbal interest in the project. The time frame is 45-60 days with a cost of $8,000.
At the city meeting, Chladek reiterated the city’s economic development plan and a $10,000 investment made by the city to determine abatement for hazardous materials and demolition costs for the site. The study was conducted by Braun Intertec and two reports were presented by City Engineer Bolton & Menk.
The city’s initiative was to provide the district with informational tools needed to set the property up for redevelopment. This also includes creation of a Tax Increment Financing district, which developers would need to tackle the project. As part of TIF preparations, the city conducted the study and reduced valuation on the property from $3.5 million to just $300,000.
“The last year and a half, providing the school information, has all been to tee this thing up for the RFP process to get as many folks as possible to go through the process,” said Chladek. “We need to cast a wider net. We want as many possible players as are out there.”
“What we don’t want to happen is discussion of who they are meeting behind closed doors,” added Chladek.
Details of the study, as well as results of a 2015 housing study were not rehashed at the meeting, but it was clear the city believed investments and actions were made in good faith as partners with the district. “We went in with open eyes, paying the bill to provide them more information. I got the feeling the board didn’t understand the RFP process,” said Councilor Terri Benson. “From what I understand, the driving force of why they chose Option B was the cost and time frame. We did this openly with the intention that this would be a community project.”
“Something different is going on,” responded Chladek. “We want to maintain the integrity of the process. Maybe they have a different perception of things, but I want everyone who has the wherewithal to have a chance at that site. We have to have to go through the RFP process and make decisions. Hopefully, we make them together. This doesn’t meet with community goals and objectives.”
Councilor Sally Rymen expressed concern that Option B is less stringent and skips things such as business planning and development plans. “It’s 45 days difference between the options. What is the difference if it’s been sitting there almost a year?” she asked.
“I think their main goal is to move on,” noted Benson. “I’m disappointed as well. We don’t want to take over the asset; the objective is to partner. I’m concerned with the direction they’re going. If it’s really just to move on, that’s a different animal.”
“It sounded like there was a partnership up until the last school board meeting,” added Councilor Jim O’Donnell. “Up until they took a hard right.”
“We’re intimately involved with a piece of property in the heart of our city. It’s a three-acre asset in our community,” stressed Chladek.
Chladek, Mayor Chris Hallum, and Councilor O’Donnell met with R-P Superintendent Chuck Ehler, School Board Chairman John Linder, and architect David Kane Tuesday, March 11 to discuss the matter. No official statement or summary was available from the City of Rushford following the meeting.
In other news, the city has a recommendation by Rushford Police Chief Adam Eide for the advancement of Officer Nathan Klinski to Sergeant. Klinski was hired in November 2014.
In a report to the council, Eide noted Klinski had taken on additional tasks and duties during his time with the department. “It is evident he takes pride in his job and community.”
Also approved by the council was a recommendation from Rushford Fire Department Chief Chad Rasmussen for the appointment, effective March 12, of Blake Lea and Logan Brand to the Rushford Fire Department. Several firefighters have retired from the department paving way for the new appointments.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Monday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m., at city hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
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