Vault, library projects get OK to start moving
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, July 15, 2003
In a matter of one and a half hours, the city took large steps toward downtown changes Monday: The city council signed a letter of intent to let three local developers get estimates on redeveloping the Freeborn Bank/Vault building, and the council approved a library study to look at different sites throughout the city.
The council was approached by Greg Jensen, Scott Knutson and Tom Throlson, who together are thinking of restoring the bank building. The letter of intent gives them four months to look the building over, assess costs and get estimates.
City Manager Paul Sparks said the city would also use the time to assess costs on the elements of the project they would complete, such as re-roofing the building, filling in a vault space under the front sidewalk of the building, removing asbestos, weatherizing the building and re-laying the front sidewalk.
&uot;There is a lot of work that would have to go into this project from both sides,&uot; Sparks said.
The city has not found cost estimates on their parts of the project yet.
The city-owned building would likely be sold for $1 to the developers. Sparks said the city would expect to give the same benefits to any developer interested in the building.
The council also decided Monday to condemn the parking lot in back of the Hansen building on William Street, behind the bank building. Condemnation is a legal procedure that would allow the city to take ownership of the property. Sparks said renovating the parking lot will also be part of the project.
Four or more sites will be looked at as spaces for a city library by a consulting firm, after a 4-3 council decision Monday night.
Councilor Randy Erdman asked for the feasibility study to be put back on the agenda after it was previously voted down 4-3. Erdman had voted against the study in the last vote because it had been focused on one site, on the city owned lot next to the Civic Theatre on North Broadway Avenue. Erdman said he didn’t have enough information to vote last time and thought that more options should be studied.
Three of the four councilors who had opposed the study earlier &045; councilmen Jeff Fjelstad, Al Brooks and George Marin &045; opposed the new study.
Marin said the expense of the study, which will likely exceed $25,000, is too much in a very tough economy.
&uot;I’m all for a new library,&uot; he said. &uot;But we are in shaky, choppy waters economically. It’s sometimes foolish to simply spend money because you have it.&uot;
The council budgeted the money for the project, but Marin said the council should save it.
Fjelstad said the timing is wrong, and that by the time the city has the money to do the project, the study will be outdated. He also listed six projects, such as economic development and cleaning the lakes, that he believes need to be higher priorities than the library.
But other council members supported it. Mayor Jean Eaton said, &uot;We cannot stop planning for the future because of tough times.&uot;
The study does not specify which sites will be considered. The city’s library advisory board will discuss that and make recommendations.
Other council notes:
-The city has extended its bar closing time from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m., following the rule change set by the state in the last legislative session. Bar owners in the city can apply for permits to stay open until the new hour.
-A letter approving the Metro Plains development company’s grant application for state funds was signed by the city. The letter gives confirmation that the city supports the redevelopment project for Lea Center.
-The city will give $40,000 to the Chamber of Commerce for a planned community strategic planning effort.
The money comes from a revolving loan fund from the state for economic development and $5,000 given to the city by Wal-Mart for economic development.
The chamber is currently searching for a group to give consulting advice and leadership in the planning process.