Reaching EVERYbody!
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Newsleader Sartell-St. Stephen
Friday, Dec. 4, 2015 Volume 20, Issue 48 Est. 1995
Town Crier Area singers to entertain at Celebration Lutheran
Get in the holiday spirit with the Sartell Senior Connection as the St. Cloud Area Fun Singers entertain listeners with a sing-along from 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8 at Celebration Lutheran Church, 1500 Pinecone Road N., Sartell. The singers will showcase their traditional holiday songs and whimsical, humorous stories as listeners enjoy coffee, cider and Christmas cookies. Bring a friend.
Postal Patron
Council votes to cease library discussions for now by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
On a 4-1 vote, the Sartell City Council voted to accept a motion made by Sartell Mayor Sarah Jane Nicoll not to discuss a city library until a final assessment is completed by the Great River Regional Library system, sometime next summer. The action happened at the
council’s last library as part meeting, Nov. of a commu23. nity center Council when the halfmember Dacent regional vid Peterson sales tax was voted against passed in Sarthe motion, tell – twice. To Peterson saying it’s very Nicoll not discuss it, important to discuss the library he added, would mean money issue in deference to the Sar- would be spent meantime on tell residents who voted for a the community center and then
later, when the subject of a library does come up, there will be no money for one. Council member Amy Braig-Lindstrom said later, after the meeting, she voted for the motion so later she could make an amendment to bring up a request to further discuss a library. In making her motion, Library • page 5
Winter weather strikes area
No Newsleader published Dec. 25 or Jan. 1
The Newsleader office will be closed Dec. 21-Jan. 1. A Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 edition will not be published. The office will reopen on Monday, Jan. 4 and will resume weekly publications beginning Jan. 8.
KringleFest returns to Stearns History Museum
KringleFest, a longtime family event, will take place from 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave. S., St Cloud. Take photos with Santa, create and take home holiday crafts, and enjoy the music and treats of the holiday season. Also, take family photos in the beautifully-decorated lobby. A nominal fee is charged. For more information, call 320-253-8424 or visit stearns-museum.org.
Catholic Charities seeks to give beds this Christmas
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud is looking to raise $15,000 in the next two weeks to purchase beds and other large items for families in need. Just more than 175 families have been adopted this holiday season in Catholic Charities Share the Spirit Program. However, sometimes their needs are greater than the resources of the generous groups who adopted them. “More than one-third of the families adopted this year have some type of larger need,” said Trina Dietz, Catholic Charities communications coordinator. “The biggest need by far is beds – if we are to fulfill all wishes, we need at least 40 beds. If we can fill that need, then we can move on to things like refrigerators or tires.” Of course, as any child knows, Santa doesn’t always deliver what you wish for, but Dietz says by coming together, the community can provide a merry Christmas for families in need. Donations are being accepted at www.ccstcloud. org or by calling 320.650.1550.
photo by Logan Gruber
School buses still needed to get through traffic Tuesday morning. St. Cloud area schools were on time, but Melrose and Upsala schools were delayed two hours due to the snow. by Logan Gruber operations@thenewsleaders.com
Snow caused a headache for commuters on the last night of November and the first morning of December. About 5 inches of snow fell Monday night into Tuesday, bringing city crews out in earnest to clear roads and provide safe travel for residents.
Sartell Public Works Director Brad Borders said the city used the following equipment for initial street plowing: five large plow/salt trucks, one loader for plowing parking lots, with an additional plow and loader if needed. Even though the snow was wet, Borders said city staff did well, working for just over eight hours. He did note one
of the plow trucks did get a flat tire, but very little time was lost. Borders said since they have been plowing roundabouts for a few years, the new ones did not present any extra obstacles. Bob Weisman, meteorology professor at St. Cloud State University’s Atmospheric and Hydrologic Sciences Department, said 6.6 inches of snow
had fallen at SCSU as of 4 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Weisman said he doesn’t foresee any more snow for the rest of the week, and in fact a good chunk of it will likely melt. On average, December is the St. Cloud area’s snowiest month with 10.5 inches on average. As of Wednesday, the area was about 2 inches below average for snowfall.
‘Elves’ stuff stockings at Schlueter ‘North Pole’ by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
photo by Dennis Dalman
Kathy Stueve of St. Cloud (left) and Hailey Karls, 5, Sartell, hold up Christmas stockings they filled at the Schlueter residence in Sauk Rapids. Hailey is the granddaughter of Al and Kathy Schlueter and the daughter of Julie and Jeremy Karls. Hailey was one of the helpers at the Schlueter residence when they held their annual Christmas stocking-stuffing event to help the less fortunate. They stuffed a grand total of 1,500 stockings.
Last Saturday, the hustle-and-bustle inside the Schlueter garage in Sauk Rapids looked like a scene at Santa’s workshop at the North Pole. “Elves” of all ages stuffed Christmas stockings with lots of goodies for people in need, mostly children. The elaborate good deed is an annual tradition at the Al and Kathy Schlueter home. It all began almost 15 years ago when Kathy’s 22-year-old nephew, Aaron Herman of Rice, died so unexpectedly right after picking up his wedding announcements in St. Cloud with his fiancée. On the drive home
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to his Rice residence, his fiancée along with, Aaron suddenly grabbed his neck. Something was terribly wrong, his fiancée knew at once as she grabbed the wheel. Aaron died later at the hospital. Unknown to him and others, he had a birth defect that caused a valve to burst. The tragedy devastated so many who knew Aaron, including Aunt Kathy and her family. An expert sewer and crafter, Kathy was asked to make one of her Teddy Bears in honor of Aaron, and so she did. She made the bear using some of Aaron’s clothing, sewed a vest for the bear and sewed Aaron’s name on it. Everyone Elves • page 3
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2 If you have a tip concerning a crime, call the Sartell Police Department at 320-251-8186 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 320255-1301 or access its tip site at www.tricountycrimestoppers.org. Crime Stoppers offers rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for crimes. Nov. 18 3:26 p.m. Welfare check. CR 1. A report was made regarding an elderly male walking in the area and appearing confused. The officer was aware of him and knew he liked walking and lived in the area. The officer spoke with the male who stated he was on his way home. 4:42 p.m. Suspicious activity. Seventh Street N. A complaint was made regarding juveniles acting suspicious. An officer located the juveniles and found they were waiting for their mothers to pick them up. Nov. 19 12:15 p.m. Welfare check. Fourth Street N. A report was made regarding an adult female receiving possible suicidal text messages from an adult male. Officers attempted contact at his residence but were unable to locate him. The male made contact and stated he was fine and needed no assistance. 8:45 p.m. Verbal. Amber Avenue S. A report was made regarding
Blotter
an adult male and female arguing inside a residence. Officers arrived and heard a female yelling. Both parties stated the argument was only verbal and they needed no assistance. Nov. 20 7:31 a.m. Verbal. Seventh Avenue S. A report was made regarding an adult male and female arguing and possibly becoming physical inside a residence. Officers spoke with both parties, who denied anything physical and stated they needed no assistance. 9:40 p.m. Suspicious vehicle. Second Street S. While on patrol, an officer located a vehicle parked behind a closed business with construction. It was found the vehicle belonged to an employee, and no further action was taken. Nov. 21 1:27 p.m. Domestic. Riverside Avenue S. An emergency call was placed stating an adult male hit a female. Officers arrived and spoke with all parties at the residence. The female was no longer cooperative, stating she wanted to leave the residence. Officers provided the family with county assistance contacts and advised them to call if any further assistance was needed. 6:19 p.m. Welfare check. Le Sauk Drive. A report was made regarding an adult female yelling and becoming out of control inside
a business. Officers arrived and the female became combative and exhibited signs of being under the influence of a narcotic. The female was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was transported to Stearns County Jail without incident. 11:48 p.m. Suspicious vehicle. Pinecone Road S. While on patrol, an officer located an occupied vehicle parked behind a closed business. A juvenile male and female were located inside the vehicle. Both of their parents were notified of the officer’s findings and were told to go home for the evening. Nov. 22 2:01 p.m. Traffic stop. Riverside Avenue. While on patrol, an officer witnessed a vehicle driving over the fog line. The driver stated the steering was off in the vehicle. The driver was unable to provide current proof of insurance. He was issued a citation and released. Nov. 23 3:01 p.m. Vandalism. Northside Park. Maintenance located graffiti on the well house located in the park. 5:18 p.m. Medical. Brianna Drive. An unresponsive elderly male was located inside his residence. Officers monitored and assisted in loading the male for transport to the St Cloud Hospital.
Friday, Dec. 4, 2015
Birth
Drey
Hadley Anne Drey, daughter of Allison and Michael Drey Jr. of Sartell, was born at 3:08 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12 at St. Cloud Hospital. She weighed 8 pounds 13 ounces and measured 21.75 inches. Hadley was welcomed home by her brother, Camden, 3. Grandparents are Cyndi and Michael Drey of Colton, S.D.; Malerie and David Dideriksen of Ames, Iowa; Richard Holm of Manson, Iowa; and Rachell Holm of Fort Dodge, Iowa.
People CentraCare Health received a Distinction Award for Best Intranet Nov. 11 during the 19th annual Healthcare Internet Conference in Orlando, Fla. The 2015 eHealthcare Leadership Awards recognized outstanding health-care websites for consumers and health-care professionals and were selected from nearly 1,000 entries. Janelle Thienes, a Sartell native, will perform Dec. 4-6 in the Christmas in Christ Chapel worship services at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn. The Saturday, Dec. 5 evening performance will be streamed online beginning at 7:15 p.m. CST. To watch live, visit gustavus.edu/ccc. The annual worship service evokes wonder through music, poetry, prayer and dance performed by more than 350 students. This year, Christmas in Christ Chapel will take the audience on a journey, joining the global travelers and the res-
idents of Bethlehem, Palestine, to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace and to give voice to our shared hope for shalom, salaam, peace in this world. Sartell High School will purchase cordless drills through the Tools for Schools, an educational project developed in 2004 by the Central Minnesota Builders Association. Through involvement with schools and educators, CMBA hopes to promote the benefits of working in the building industry as a career destination and understanding about the wide variety of jobs associated with building and selling a home, skill levels required, wages and benefits offered and career paths available. This year CMBA presented $10,000 to area high schools to enhance their building technology classes. Eleven area schools, including Sartell High School, submitted requests for funding from CMBA’s program.
Meet Hal, a Blue Heeler and Black Lab mix who is neutered and is 4-½ years old. In his previous home, Hal got along with children of all ages, other dogs and cats. He’s described as obedient and knows the commands sit, stay and go to your blanket. His owner would often take him on long hikes and walks. Hal is house-trained and was used to being crated overnight and while left alone. He likes to cuddle and generally just likes being around people.
“Helping one animal won’t change the world … but it will change the world for that one animal!” Dogs - 16 Kittens - 20
Rabbits - 8
Tri-County Humane Society
Cats - 26
735 8th St. NE • PO Box 701 St. Cloud, MN 56302
252-0896
www.tricountyhumanesociety.org
Hours: Monday-Thursday Noon-6 p.m., Friday Noon-8 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday Noon-5 p.m.
Published each Friday by Von Meyer Publishing Inc. Publisher/Owner Janelle Von Pinnon Editor: Dennis Dalman Admin. Assistant Cady Sehnert
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Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Dec. 4, 2015 LEGAL NOTICES
CITY OF SARTELL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF SARTELL RIGHT OF WAY PLAT NO. 4 FOURTH AVENUE SOUTH AND 50TH AVENUE SOUTH/LEANDER AVENUE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: That the Sartell City Council will hold a public hearing in the council chambers of the Sartell City Hall on Monday, the 14th day of December, 2015, at 6 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, to consider the right of way plat for
the future Fourth Avenue South and expansion of the 50th Avenue South Leander Avenue roadway. Mary Degiovanni City Administrator Publish: Dec. 4, 2015
CITY OF ST. STEPHEN NOTICE OF HEARING ON IMPROVEMENT TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: pursuant to Minn. Stat. §§429.011 to 429.111. The estimated total cost Notice is hereby given the City of the improvement is $381,100. A Council of the City of St. Stephen reasonable estimate of the impact will meet in the Council chambers of the assessment will be available of the St. Stephen City Hall at 6:30 at the hearing. Such persons as dep.m. Dec. 16, 2015, to consider the sire to be heard with reference to making of Improvement No. D33, the proposed improvement will be a street improvement of Second heard at this meeting. Street NE between CSAH 2 and the eastern termini of Second Street CITY OF ST. STEPHEN NE, and Second-and-a-half Avenue NE between Second Street NE and By /s/ Cris M Drais the southern termini of Second- Cris M Drais, City Clerk and-a-half Avenue NE by reclaiming and paving the above streets, Publish: Dec. 4 and 11, 2015. CITY OF ST. STEPHEN RESOLUTION RECEIVING FEASABILITY REPORT AND CALLING HEARING ON IMPROVEMENT WHEREAS, pursuant to the resoluThe Council will consider the tion of the Council adopted on Nov. improvement of such street in ac18, 2015, a report has been prepared cordance with the report and the by the City Engineer, S.E.H., with assessment of abutting property for reference to proposed Improvement all or a portion of the cost of the imNo. D33, the street improvement of provement pursuant to Minnesota Second Street NE between CSAH Statutes, Chapter 429 at an esti2 and the eastern termini of Second mated total cost of the improvement Street NE, and Second-and-a-half of $381,100. Avenue NE between Second Street NE and the southern termini of A public hearing shall be held on Second-and-a-half Avenue NE by such proposed improvement on the reclaiming and paving the above 16th day of December, 2015, in the streets, and this report was received Council chambers of the City Hall by the Council on Nov. 18, 2015, and at 6:30 p.m. and the Clerk shall give mailed and published notice of WHEREAS, the report provides such hearing and improvement as information regarding whether the required by law. proposed improvements is necessary, cost-effective and feasible; Adopted by the Council this 18th whether it should best be made as day of November, 2015. proposed in connection with some other improvement; the estimated CITY OF ST. STEPHEN cost of the improvement as recommended; and a description of By /s/ Cindy VanderWeyst the methodology used to calculate Cindy VanderWeyst, Mayor individual assessments for affected parcels. By /s/ Cris M Drais Cris M Drais, City Clerk NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUN- Publish: Dec. 4 and 11, 2015 CIL OF ST. STEPHEN, MINN.:
Westwood Church in St. Cloud is hosting this two hour seminar on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 9-11 a.m. Call 320-230-6700 to register.
Elves from front page was moved by the sight of the bear, by memories of Aaron’s untimely death. That was one example of Kathy’s “Memory Bears.” She has made many of them in honor of people who’ve died. It was about the time of Aaron’s death that Kathy’s family, relatives and acquaintances urged her to expand her skills into a Christmas-stocking project for people in need. It didn’t take much convincing; she loved the idea. Kathy suffers from a lung disease, which keeps her hooked up to oxygen. She doesn’t have a lot of strength or energy to do more active pursuits and so her sewing and crafts are made to order for her limited movements. The stocking project rapidly became a “family affair,” a labor of love for Kathy’s husband, their children, grandchildren, relatives and friends. Last Saturday, about two dozen of them became a virtual work force inside the garage, packing the stockings – 1,500 of them – all day long and into the early evening. After years of doing it, they’ve become a smooth-operating work force, with people ages senior to wee children helping stuff the stockings. Inside the garage were three very long tables with walkways in between. Each table was filled with large boxes
holding a huge variety of stocking treats: candy, little books, mini-bonnets, kiddie mittens, skin-care lotions, tiny toys and other bright-and-shiny fun items. Each volunteer would grab a sock and then walk down each walkway, stuffing each stocking with gender- and age-appropriate goodies – all of it figured out beforehand. Each colorful sock is about 16-17 inches tall and hand-sewn by Kathy with a snazzy, striking border on the top of the sock. After they are stuffed, the socks bulge to bursting with all the treats inside them. Then they are carefully placed in boxes for delivery in time for Christmas. Besides Kathy and Al, the helpers included their children and their spouses: Jeff and Melissa Schlueter of Holdingford, and Julie and Jeremy Karls and Jenny and Jeremy Kenning, all of Sartell. All of the grandchildren also helped: Jeff and Melissa’s children Aubrey and Aidah (baby Harrison is too young to help); Julie and Jeremy’s children Hailey and Bentley; and Jenny and Jeremy’s children Christian, Cole and Creed. Christian, 18, is the oldest of the Schlueters’ grandchildren. Other long-time helpers are the mother-daughter team of Lee and Janel Adelman of Sauk Rapids, who read about the stocking project in a newspaper years ago and decided to help out. The stockings will go to a number of places, all of them
3 and the numbers of stockings prearranged long before the packing of the goodies. This year, the stockings will be delivered or sent to the Anna Marie Women’s Shelter, homeless war veterans through the Minnesota Warriors Beyond-the-Yellow-Ribbon organization, the Salvation Army, residents of the St. Cloud Children’s Home and even places in Iowa and Georgia. The Georgia connection came about after Kathy watched a singer from Georgia on American Idol, a singer who did fundraising for a home in Georgia for children who had lost both parents for one reason or another. Kathy sought out that home’s website and has been sending Christmas stockings to them ever since. Another favorite recipient is the Christian Midwest Services ranch home in Iowa for troubled young boys. The Schlueter helpers aren’t just expert stuffers; they are also hawk-eyed shoppers who can spot a sale a mile away. They often go to post-Christmas sales to get items for the next year’s stocking project. They also seek out donations from generous people, organizations and businesses. Every deer-hunting weekend, Kathy hosts a fundraising craft sale for “hunting widows,” and she uses all the proceeds to buy sewing items for the stocking project. “We all look for sales at Elves • back page
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4
Friday, Dec. 4, 2015
Food Service Staff Needed! City conducts city-services survey Sartell-St. Stephen Schools Independent School District 748
Numerous substitute food-service positions available following school calendar. Up to 2.5 hours/day. Fast-paced, fun and friendly environment.
Please apply at: www.sartell.k12.mn.us
by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Sartell city staff is seeking input from residents via a voluntary survey accessible by Internet or on paper at city hall. Residents can take the survey through Dec. 15.
The survey asks 10 questions about city services and then suggests respondents rate each one from “Excellent” to “Poor” to “Don’t know.” The survey is a tool that will help staff improve services for city residents. The questions include one
about overall safety factors, condition of streets, snowplowing, utilities, fire protection and overall aesthetics of the city. To take the survey, go to: www.surveymonkey.com/r/ SARTELL2015.
School district starts phone survey by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
As the Sartell-St. Stephen School District continues to develop its 15-year long-range facilities plan, its officials want to know what residents want. During the next three weeks, the district, in partnership with the Morris Leatherman Co., will conduct a phone survey to gather feedback on the district. Currently, the district is trying to find solutions for more space for students as
growth leads to more enrollments. The survey will call a crosssection of adults in the district to ask about 60 questions. All responses will be confidential. Summaries of the information gathered will be shared with the school board. “As a district, we have been through our Community Schools Planning process,” said Jeff Schwiebert, district superintendent. “This involved over 100 individuals including parents, city officials,
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staff, senior citizens, business members and alumni. These folks were engaged in an indepth process which explored the current and future facilities needs for our students. We recognize these individuals were essential to the planning process and very invested in creating the initial proposal. We now would like to include and gauge the perspectives of the overall community as we move forward. This information will further inform and guide our district leadership.”
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Friday, Dec. 4, 2015
Library from front page Mayor Nicoll said ongoing conversations on the council about the library have not been helping a difficult situation, that it’s pointless to keep rehashing library issues while waiting for the GRRL to complete and release its final long-term assessment plan, which is expected to be completed by early summer of 2016. That way, Nicoll said the council will have a better idea of exactly what GRRL expects for a library in Sartell. That time of summer is the same time construction is expected to begin on the Sartell Community Center at its south site, favored by three of the five members on the city council. Several times during the long discussion, Peterson strongly disagreed with ending library discussions. “I think it’s time we as a council equally show we are flexible and work with GRRL to find a solution for here, which from all practical purposes is not the current location of the community center,” Peterson
said. Once again, as in previous council meetings, a potential Sartell library’s location was central to the discussion. Attending the Nov. 23 meeting were GRRL Executive Director Karen Pundsack and Benton County Commissioner Mark Bromenschenkel, who serves on the GRRL Board and who has long spoken in favor of a Sartell branch library. Bromenschenkel, at the Nov. 23 meeting, told the council the south site for a community center is absolutely not acceptable as a library site to GRRL, which passed a motion to that effect. However, he added a site at Sartell City Hall property would be acceptable to the GRRL Board. As such, the GRRL has shown a willingness to compromise on its distance requirements, which require a branch library to be 15 miles or more from another GRRL branch library. The south-site location is seven miles from the St. Cloud Public Library and the Waite Park GRRRL-branch library. Sartell City Hall is nine miles from those two libraries. Nicoll said she finds it hard to understand if a distance of
nine miles is now acceptable to the GRRL, why isn’t seven miles (from the communitycenter site) not acceptable – a difference of only two miles. Council member Steve Hennes said it would be possible to get a 4,000-square-foot library in the community center if only GRRL would accept that location. “We’d all like to see that happen,” he said. Hennes suggested all the GRRL Board members should take a look at the architect’s plans for the south-side community center because, in his opinion, they would be impressed with the site, its surroundings and all the development (including neighborhoods in that area) that would make the site a good one for a library. Peterson said there are now three options before the council as regards a library. Option 1: No library will be acceptable at the southern site, thus no GRRL-branch library could be put there. Option 2: Two separate sites, one for the community center, another for a library. Other sites further north, such as the former Villcheck property near
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Pinecone Central Park, are still viable, Peterson said. Option 3: Change the location for a community center (with library) from the south site to a more northern site, such as Villcheck, and then build a strong partnership with GRRL to create a branch library. If at least one of those options is not realized, there will be no branch library at all in Sartell, Peterson said. Braig-Lindstrom said the council shouldn’t try to “spoonfeed” GRRL about the value of the south site for a community center. Hennes countered that, saying it’s not a matter of spoon-feeding anyone but that the GRRL should make itself aware of the potential for library services and use in that busy southern site. Braig-Lindstrom also said there has been a lack of interest by the council in meeting with the GRRL or attending its meetings to possibly forge a strong partnership. Other council members took issue with her comments, adding the
5 council could not move forward because it and Sartell city staff have not been given precise enough directions from GRRL. That, Nicoll said, is why the council should wait for GRRL’s long-term assessment to be completed. Peterson again brought up the subject of how residents expected sales-tax money to pay for a library. Sartell City Administrator Mary Degiovanni said it would be possible to bond for a library, which would mean residents would pay for it through property taxes. Peterson bristled at that suggestion, stating voters meant sales-tax revenue to be used for a library when they voted for the half-cent sales tax, twice. They did not want a library to be paid for by property taxes, he added. Degiovanni also said there might be up to $1.5 million left for a library out of the $12.5 million that will be bonded for the community-center project, expected to cost about $11 million. Sales-tax revenues to the city would be used to repay that bond issue.
Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Friday, Dec. 4, 2015
Opinion Our View
Letters to the editor
Decision not to discuss library Now is the time for branch library slaps advocates in the face
The Sartell City Council’s decision not to discuss a city library until possibly as late as next summer was an unfortunate decision. The council at its Nov. 23 meeting voted 4-1 to not discuss the library issue until a long-term assessment by the Great River Regional Board is completed, which is not expected until early next summer. The council’s frustration with the library issue is understandable to a degree, but it’s a frustration largely of its own making – specifically by the three members of that council who have refused to budge on their choice for a south site for the community center. Those members are Steve Hennes, Pat Lynch and Mayor Sarah Jane Nicoll. They have been asked repeatedly by library advocates and others to reconsider their southsite decision in favor of a more central location. None of the three would budge one bit. Their rationale is the south site has plenty enough room for the center and its possible expansion in the future. However, those three on the council know full well a library in that center is not in the cards – at least not a branch library – because GRRL, which would help set up and help run such a library, will not approve a site that close to the libraries in St. Cloud and Waite Park. GRRL’s space requirements also gave them a rationale to dismiss a branch library as any kind of option. In other words, there will be no branch library in the community center. Any so-called “library” in the center will be a sorry excuse for one, such as a reading room or an “innovation center.” Once the city spends sales-tax money on the community center, you can bet there will not be enough from that source or any other source for a separate library. In other words, at this point, it certainly looks like the city will not get a library, period, which is a slap in the face to the many voters who approved the half-cent sales-tax extension with the understanding the revenue would make possible a library. And this is why it was unwise for the city council to vote to not discuss a library during the coming months. First of all, why pass a motion to squelch discussion on any topic, library or not? Second, that decision is another let-down to long-time and new library enthusiasts. Whether those council members intended to or not, their vote gives the impression to Sartell residents that they, the council members, plan to close their ears to any talk of a “library.” Their decision, whether they think so or not, gives the impression they don’t intend to entertain any notions of a full-fledged library in the city. Until later. When it’s too late. Those three members, who have made so many excellent decisions in the past, have repeatedly said that, yes, of course they would like to see a library in the city, but their actions have not matched their words. And every time the subject came up, there was an almost eagerly blithe dismissal of the desires and concerns raised by library advocates. At least that’s the perception they gave. What caused them to dismiss the concerns of library advocates with such cold-shouldered attitudes? Their decision is anything but democratic. It could be construed as a form of close-minded arrogance (whether it is or not), and that is exactly the way many residents in Sartell have already construed it.
The ideas expressed in the letters to the editor and of the guest columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Newsleaders. Letters to the editor may be sent to news@thenewsleaders. com or P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374. Deadline is noon Monday. Please include your full name for publication (and address and phone number for verification only.) Letters must be 350 words or less. We reserve the right to edit for space.
Zurya Anjum on behalf of Sartell Friends of the Library
Dear Sartell City Council Members and Mayor, On Nov. 17, the Great River Regional Library Board clearly stated the south site chosen by the Sartell City Council for a communitycenter site is not suitable for a branch library because of distance requirements from the St. Cloud and Waite Park libraries. That information was conveyed to Sartell before the council went ahead and chose the south site for a community center. The GRRL assessment as regards Sartell has already been completed, and one site acceptable to GRRL is the Sartell City Hall location. It is a shame a city of 17,000 people does not have its own library branch. In a survey done by Sartell (Oct. 27-Nov. 3, 2015), 75 percent wanted a youth library and 69 percent asked for an adult library. Those results can be found on the City of Sartell website under “Packet Information” for Nov. 9 (page 142 in packet). Sartell residents want city officials to make a commitment to GRRL to get the process started with the money from half-cent sales tax for a library branch. The
GRRL wants to work with Sartell now. That was made clear by the GRRL Board Chairperson Mark Bromenschenkel and GRRL Executive Director Karen Pundsack on Nov. 23 at the Sartell council meeting. Kudos to them and council members David Peterson and Amy Braig Lindstrom for speaking in favor of a GRRL library in Sartell. The mayor and council member Steve Hennes tried to get the GRRL board to modify its requirements to accommodate the south-site community center even though the GRRL board voted against it due to its distance-requirement policies. How presumptuous and arrogant of them to want GRRL to bend the rules for them because it does not work for their chosen site. Despite options for a separate site for a GRRL branch or considering constructing the community center at an alternate site, the mayor continues to state there should be no discussion until a GRRL assessment is completed next year. Wouldn’t that be too late to then say “We made a mistake about choosing this site even though we knew this was not acceptable to GRRL, and now Sartell cannot have a GRRL library since there is no money left!” At the last two council meetings, the room was full of library sup-
porters, including a pro-library rally at the Nov. 9 meeting. There are 500 signatures on a petition calling for a branch library, but that does not seem significant to the mayor. The other council members who want to delay discussion of a library until next summer are not listening to the constituents who elected them. That is not the way of a democracy. Council and mayor, please listen to your people. Building a community center without plans to build a library is not good planning, nor is it serving your community. Now is the time to act for a GRRL branch in Sartell. If not, the legacy of Mayor Nicoll and this council will be one of splitting this city into fractions, one of which is already calling library supporters names such as “gym bashers, whiners and bullies” just because they are asking the city to follow through on 15 years of hard work and promises to build a branch library. Sadly, even though Sartell Senior Connection members do not approve of the senior-center location, they do not want to stop the process as they have waited too long for this and are worried if this process is halted they may not see a senior center in their lifetime. What does this say about us as a community?
City council ignores citizens’ wishes Theresa Lau, Sartell At the Sartell City Council Meeting Nov. 23, information was reviewed from the Nov. 9 Great River Regional Library Board meeting. The GRRL voted to remove Sartell as a potential location for a new GRRL branch because the city has not presented a proposal that meets GRRL’s long-standing requirements. At the GRRL meeting, the board engaged in a thoughtful discussion, and many members expressed strong support for a branch in Sartell, pointing out Sartell is one of the largest cities in Minnesota without a library. They indicated they are still willing to work with Sartell once the
city council brings a proposal that meets their requirements for location and space. As the council reviewed that information, council members David Peterson and Amy Braig-Lindstrom attempted to open discussion about options to continue the process of obtaining a GRRL branch, an idea that began decades ago. However, Mayor Sarah Jane Nicoll made a motion to have no further discussion about the library at this time. She appears to be focused on waiting for a GRRL assessment to evaluate alternatives, such as bookmobiles or kiosks for certain locations, not specific to Sartell. Peterson rightly pointed out the problem of allocating money for a community center without dis-
cussing plans for a library. The mayor’s motion essentially kills plans for a GRRL library, as the money from the half-cent sales tax will all be allocated to a community center by the time they return to any discussion about a library. As a citizen and taxpayer, I am saddened by the council decision. In listening to the GRRL board, its members clearly stated their requirements for a branch library. In the city-council meeting, rather than brainstorming or considering options to bring a branch library to fruition, a decision was made to close the door on decades of work in support of a GRRL branch and to ignore the wishes of the constituents and taxpayers of Sartell.
Friday, Dec. 4, 2015 Is your event listed? Send your information to: Newsleader Calendar, P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374; fax it to 320-363-4195; or, e-mail it to news@ thenewsleaders.com.
Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Community Calendar
Friday, Dec. 4 Holiday Open House, all day, Central Minnesota Credit Union, 1300 Elm St. E., St. Joseph. 1-888-330-8482. mycmcu.org. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 CR 2, St. Joseph. Christmas at the Mansions, 1-7 p.m., Linden Hills Historical Event Center, 608 Highland Ave., Little Falls. 320616-5580. Winterwalk, 5-8 p.m., tree lighting, 6 p.m., Bello Cucina patio; meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, 6:30 p.m., Heritage Hall, Church of St. Joseph, downtown St. Joseph. Music of the Season, featuring the Great River Chorale and the Cantabile Girls Concert Choir, 7:30 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4310 CR 137, St. Cloud. greatriverchorale.org. “Tartuffe,” 7:30 p.m., SCSU Performing Arts Center, 720 Fourth Ave. S., St. Cloud.
behind Sauk Rapids Fire Department. 408 N. Benton Drive. Craft-Vendor Sale, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., VFW 4847, 104 Franklin N.E., St. Cloud. Living Nativity, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Coborn’s parking lot, 110 First St. S., Sauk Rapids. Holiday Art Crawl, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., three locations: Bruno Press, 154 Fifth Ave. S.E., St. Joseph; Bad Habit Brewery, 15 E. Minnesota St. #108, St. Joseph; and Minnesota Street Market, 27 W. Minnesota St. Christmas at the Mansions, 11 a.m.7 p.m., Linden Hills Historical Event Center, 608 Highland Ave., Little Falls. 320-616-5580. Family Fun Day, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Sauk Rapids VFW Post 6992, 901 N. Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. Trots for Tots 5K Run, 3 p.m., Sauk Rapids Fire Hall, 408 N. Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. Christmas Card Festival, 3-6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1107 Pinecone Road S., Sartell. fumcscr.org. Holiday Parade of Lights, 5 p.m., along Second Avenue, Sauk Rapids. “Tartuffe,” 7:30 p.m., SCSU Performing Arts Center, 720 Fourth Ave. S., St. Cloud.
Saturday, Dec. 5 Christmas Craft and Bake Sale, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 CR 2, St. Joseph. 320-3634232. Christmas Cookie, Candy and Gift Sale, 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Immaculate Conception Church, 145 Second Ave. N.E., Rice. Multi-state Permit-to-Carry Class, 10 a.m., Firing Line Imdoor Gun Range, 3409 Mayhew Lake Road N.E., Sauk Rapids. 320-247-2877. Cookie Walk, 10 a.m.-noon, First United Methodist Church, 1107 Pinecone Road S., Sartell. 320-251-0804. fumcscr. org. Winter Market, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Sartell City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road N. www.marketmonday.org. Toys for Tots drive, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.,
Sunday, Dec. 6 Christmas Cookie, Candy and Gift Sale, 9-10 a.m., Immaculate Conception Church, 145 Second Ave. N.E., Rice. Christmas at the Mansions, 11 a.m.7 p.m., Linden Hills Historical Event Center, 608 Highland Ave., Little Falls. 320-616-5580. KringleFest, 1-3 p.m., Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. www.stearns-museum.org/ kringlefest. 320-253-8424. Christmas Open House, 1-4 p.m., Place of Hope Ministries, 511 Ninth Ave. N., St. Cloud. Music of the Season, featuring the Great River Chorale and the Cantabile Girls Concert Choir, 4 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4310 CR 137, St. Cloud. greatriverchorale.org. “Tartuffe,” 7:30 p.m., SCSU Per-
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forming Arts Center, 720 Fourth Ave. S., St. Cloud.
Monday, Dec. 7 Sartell Lions Club, 7 p.m., upstairs of Blue Line Sports Bar andGrill, 1101 Second St. S., Sartell. 320-248-3240. Tuesday, Dec. 8 Sartell Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m., Waters Church, 1227 Pinecone Road. 320-258.6061. info@sartellchamber.com. Holiday sing-a-long with the St. Cloud Area Fun Singers, 2-3:30 p.m., Celebration Lutheran Church, 1500 Pinecone Road N., Sartell. Girl from Birch Creek, explores the life of the late Justice Rosalie Wahl from her youth during the Great Depression to becoming the first woman appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court, 7-8 p.m., Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, 1620 Lindbergh Drive S., Little Falls. 320616-5421. lindbergh@mnhs.org Holistic Moms Network, 7-8:30 p.m., Good Earth Co-op, 2010 Veterans Drive, St. Cloud. 320-252-2489. Wednesday, Dec. 9 What’s the Buzz About Native Bees, a Breakfast Club program, 9 a.m., Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. stearns-museum.org/breakfast-club. ISIS, Persecution and the End Times, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Harvest Fellowship, 400 Second Ave. N., Sauk Rapids. 320-529-8838. Thursday, Dec. 10 Coffee and Conversation, a se-
CRAFT-VENDOR SALE Saturday, Dec. 5 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. VFW 4847 104 Franklin NE, St. Cloud (off Hwy. 10)
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nior discussion group, 9 a.m., Country Manor, 520 First St. NE, Sartell. Sartell-Sauk Rapids Moms Club, 9-10:30 a.m., Celebration Lutheran Church, 1500 Pinecone Road N., Sar-
tell.
Friday, Dec. 11 Tae Guk Kwan Do, 3-4 p.m., Independent Lifestyles, 215 N. Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. 320-267-7717.
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SARTELL AREA YOUTH BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION SAYBA Inhouse Basketball
Boys and Girls Grades K-4 Saturdays, Jan. 9, 16 & 23 Feb. 6, 13 & 20
Sartell Middle School
$40 online by Dec. 21 $50 at door on first day Find times for each grade level and online registration at www.saybabball.org
Winter Extravaganza
Sunday, Dec. 13 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. St. Stephen City Hall • 2 6th Ave SE St. Stephen Fire & Rescue will bring Santa to City Hall for children to visit with!
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Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Elves
Two speak up in favor of Sartell branch library by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
from page 3 stores year-round,” Kathy said. “We have one whole room in the basement lined with shelves where we store items for the next year. I like to do this project, first of all because I love children, and second because it’s another reminder to us all that we should appreciate what we have. People really don’t need that much in life. You don’t always need the best, and so many people have nothing. If you quit needing always the best, you can start helping other people, the ones who have nothing.” Anybody who would like to donate to the Christmas Stocking project for this season or next can send a check to Kathy Schlueter, with “Christmas Stocking” written on the memo line to: Kathy Schlueter, 420 Ninth Ave. N., Sauk Rapids, MN 56379.
Craft &
Friday, Dec. 4, 2015
3
Vend 0 ors!
Bake Sale
Saturday, Dec. 5 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Resurrection Lutheran Church 610 CR 2, St. Joseph Proceeds to benefit Youth & Family Ministries.
Two residents – Joe Perske and Sebastian Lau – spoke in favor of a Sartell branch library at the public forum portion of the Nov. 23 city-council meeting. (See related story.) Perske, former Sartell mayor, told the council, as he has in the past, that the residents
of Sartell have long wanted a library, that one has been a top priority on numerous city surveys for many years. Sartell, he said, is the largest city in Minnesota without a library. “It’s time to move forward with a library,” he said. “We either decide we’re going to have a separate facility or we take another look at the community center and renegotiate
a site with a library.” Perske, a long-time library advocate, has spoken before the current council many times, urging them to proceed with a library for the city. Sebastian Lau, 12, is a student at Sartell Middle School who said he cannot go to the St. Cloud Public Library unless somebody takes him there. Thus, he often has to
wait for the books he wants to check out. He also made the point he much prefers to read actual books, not “virtual” books on Kindle, even though his parents offered to buy him a Kindle. Sebastian said a city survey said 75 percent favor a youth library and 70 percent favor an adult library. He urged the council to create a library.