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Housing plan gets nod over business venture
Published 10:55am Tuesday, May 22, 2012After the Fergus Falls City Council’s landmark decision May 7 to move toward demolition of most of the city’s Kirkbride building, the council focused on three smaller-scale Regional Treatment Center issues at its Monday night meeting.
Parcel D4
After months of delays and deliberation, the council finally picked a local developer to move forward with on the sale of six houses on the RTC property near the Union/Fir avenue intersection. However, the decision only came after a rare divided council vote.
Ultimately, the council went with the residential-focused option from Cory Budke and Marc Sikkink over the business development plan proposed by affiliates of The Business Network Fergus Falls. Before the decision, many council members acknowledged that both proposals were very good.
“I don’t think either one would be a mistake to go with, and quite honestly I’m torn between the two,” said Eric Shelstad.
Ultimately, the council members (besides the abstaining Jay Cichosz, whose name is mentioned on The Business Network’s website) were forced to decide between the job-creating potential of the business proposal or the more “sure thing” status of the Budke-Sikkink plan, which included definite timelines and a promise to pay the city if its timelines aren’t met. Alderman Randy Synstelien moved for the first vote, which would have moved forward with The Business Network’s option.
“There’s potential for some job creation here and that’s an important part that we can’t overlook,” he said.
However, the vote failed, with Randy and Stan Synstelien and Pat Connelly voting in favor and Shelstad, Scott Rachels, Jim Fish and JoEllen Thacker voting against.
“I ended up giving higher marks to the Budke-Sikkink one because I like (definition),” said Thacker. “I know what I’m getting with that one.”
After the first vote failed, Stan Synstelien said the Budke-Sikkink plan was also acceptable to the city, and the council voted 7-0 in favor of it. City staff will begin working with the developers on a purchase agreement.
Grant extension
Special advisor on the RTC Kent Mattson updated the council on negotiations with the state Department of Administration to extend the city’s demolition grant deadline agreement to December 2014, rather than just under a year from now. While that language appears to be a sure bet, Mattson said other negotiations are delaying the process.
“Where we have been negotiating with the state and the reason why the agreement is not finalized relates to exploring the extent to which the bond funds can be used for renovation or stabilization,” he said.
If the state agrees to allowing some renovation funding, leftover funds could be used to renovate the part of the Kirkbride left standing should the city decide to tear some of it down. The city is hoping for an open-ended definition of “renovation,” while the state is looking for a more specific listing of what kinds of renovation could be made. Mattson will give an update at the June 4 council meeting.
Marketing task force
Finally, the city approved a task force committee recommended by the Historic Preservation Commission to explore options for successfully marketing the RTC to developers. The committee will look at a variety of options to determine the best party or firm to successfully reach interested developers, potentially preventing the demolition of the Kirkbride. The committee’s first meeting is today at 4:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
Members include Pat Connelly, Tim Hunt, Laurie Mullen, Anthony Hicks, Tim Litt, Steve Guttormson, Jake Krohn, Michelle Anderson, Wayne Hurley, and HPC members Walt Dunlap, Rob Rogholt, Jay Neumann, Jan Stenger, Jan Nelson, Mark Sundberg, Chris Schuelke, and Lance Albers.
Daily Journal
The city council chamber was fuller than usual, but the Friends of the Kirkbride could not pull off a repeat performance of the May 7 council meeting, where more than 200 packed the council chambers and flowed out the back door.
On Monday, about 50 sat in on the meeting. Although several were at the meeting for reasons not pertaining to the Kirkbride’s preservation, many attendees were still festooned with the Friends’ buttons. The crowd was also silent on Monday, a far cry from the crowd that often murmured, muttered and occasionally shouted during the May 7 meeting.
The city was more prepared for the crowd this time around, setting up several chairs and a TV with a live feed of the meeting in the main foyer area of city hall. However, the area went unused, as all attendees could fit in the chambers.
“We expected less because of what happened last (meeting because) they were not very accommodating,” said Maxine Schmidt, one of the Friends organizers. She said several people told her they would not be attending again if it meant having to stand outside, as some Kirkbride supporters were forced to do May 7.
Schmidt said there were signs of positive movement on the RTC at Monday’s meeting, particularly the progress on extending the demolition grant agreement. However, she noted that the Friends group prefer that the city not sell Parcel D4 of the property, as some developers had previously expressed interest in the land along with the rest of the Kirkbride.
Tags: Regional Treatment Center
i would like to know what the winning bid was. I think the people of the city has that right to know.
Ryan, you stated that we could not pull off over 200 people again. For your information there were people there that were older that needed seating. Did they get it? no. There was people who were invited to come and shunned, not given the chance to speak at the meeting. How do you think they feel? I would be pretty sure pretty angry about it. Would you sit out there for nothing after being asked to give your input? No you wouldn’t. If the council would accomodate the people in Fergus Falls a lot better instead of “what council wants the council gets” it would be a different story on people going to the meetings. I hate to say this but you have no idea what “friends of the Kirkbride” are capable of yet. Do you really want to see people show up at the meetings only to be shot down by council and get uptight and cause problems in council chambers? Mainly the comments made there twards the citizens are what have people fired up. Like telling them you are better than them because you are on the council. Jay made this comment and does have several people waiting for him to slip up to get him. People take offense to that in a very big way. He made it so let him deal with it. People have already made comments about running city hall to be heard. Do you or the council want to be held responsable for that? Riot mentality, someone getting hurt cuz people are coming down to the wire? I would bet not. Never underestimate the public at large like that for you have no idea what they can do to you. I am NOT making threats just telling it how it is when people are treated like this.
Sounds like threats to me. Riot mentality is correct. I wish there was some leadership on the Friends of the Kirkbride that could keep comments like this in check. Definitely not helping your cause.
Never once did Jay claim or say he was better than anyone. He simply said if he was in the audience and not on the council he would too be more apt to yell to have it saved. Instead he has been elected to represent the interests of all, especially fiscal interests, rather than just himself. You have completely taken what he was saying out of context, but then again the only thing the audience wanted to hear that night was themselves screaming and whining like children on the playground. You are so uninformed and off-base Mr. Erickson that it is simply laughable. Carry on.
Edward, to make this perfectly clear. These statements are NOT coming from “friends of the Kirkbride” that i am aware of. I know several people are voicing their anger about the coucil and how they have been treated from the council.
It’s unfortunate that you (and others) feel slighted, but the council has done nothing wrong. There is a false sense of entitlement when it comes to the ‘Friends’ and City Council meetings. You do NOT have the RIGHT to speak at your own whim at council meetings, especially when you are not a city resident (as is the case with the vast majority of the ‘Friends’). It is a privilege to be allowed to speak, and the ‘Friends’ have abused this in past meetings. For these same people to cry foul is annoying to the citizens of this town, and it is definitely not helping your cause in their eyes. Take the high road, please.
In the coffee shops and stores I have heard people describe the mob of RTC supporters as “juvenile”, ‘spoiled senior citizens’, ‘rabble rousers’, and one of the best, ‘ Fergus Falls Occupy Wall Street jerks’. I know that this is not an accurate description for many of the supporters, but there is a sizable number among them who are deserving of those pejoratives. And a few bored rabble rousers who would love to stir up and boil a bit of violence. I hope that the Friends of Kirkbride realize that in this town violence will turn most people against your cause, and a few moments of smashing or lashing out could undo years of good will and good reputations. You seem to be making some progress with the committee, give it some time to get results before raising cane again.
So what your saying Edward is that even though the people who live in the city that fill out the cards to voice their opinion in front of the council shouldn’t be allowed to speak? It is them who got these people into their chairs as councilmen. They are there to represent the people of Fergus Falls, do what is best. When they openly invite them there and shut them down, i disagree with that. As a council member myself we would be asked to resign if we treated people like that in an open meeting. We (friends of the Kirkbride) did NOT put anyone up to stirring the pot and getting out of hand. The people that were getting agitated were on their own with that. Yes there is a difference between f.o.k. and the supporters that were there.
First off Mr. Erickson, I see you have run to the good old Facebook group and called Mr. Nigma “brain-dead” simply because he disagrees with you… childish or is that how you operate?
Second, what City are you a Council member for… because I don’t think you understand how meetings are supposed to be run and what is and is not acceptable behavior. Please supply the City, as I would like to contact them and inform them of the threats and name calling coming from one of their council members and the ignorance of the civic process of which you have displayed.
Finally, were you at the meeting that you have been continually referencing? I would like to know how the City of Fergus Falls was supposed to know to expect a big crowd. The Friends of the Kirkbride have been running this campaign for several years, and never before has that many people showed up. The city did nothing differently, how are they supposed to be aware? And then the following meeting when they are informed that the FOK will pack the place, there are many empty chairs. However, when the City was made aware of the large crowd that was expected, they were more than accommodating. I don’t see any recognition or credit for that… simply excuses and whining.
Also, at the meeting that you continually reference, the Mayor many times asked if anyone else would like to speak and no one came forward and the crowd was silent. They allowed many, many people to speak throughout the night and never once enforced the time-limit deadline imposed. The council does not (as you should know) have to allow input, this is a formal meeting that Citizen’s only have the right to observe.
Finally, yes, if people fill out those Open Forum Requests, they will be allowed their chance to speak… only if the item they wish to speak about is not on the agenda (As you should know Mr. Erickson), and in this case the RTC was on the agenda. They even went so far as to allow those people to speak first when they did open it up for discussion! Get real man, they were certainly accommodating and not “Shutting anyone out”.
Lastly, the City can’t simply change the meeting location the day of the meeting or slow down city business, due to many laws (which again, I am sure you are aware of). Get rid of this hate and entitlement towards the process and you will realize the City has done a heck of a job with the resources they have and have been more than willing to listen and try; hence the new task force.
Once again, please provide the name of the Town/City in which you are a City Council member, thanks.
I am not sure who these spoiled Friends of the Kirkbride are who you are referring too?? Every and I mean every last friend I have met or come across have been nothing but kind and have huge hearts. I believe what you are mistaking as spoiled is what we call passion.
“One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested.”
We all need to remain united and avoid throwing mud at each other. We are all human and need to remember everyone has feelings, we are not put on this earth to judge..it isn’t our place.
Julie, you are correct in your analysis. Most of the Friends care for this building, it represents the History of Fergus Falls, a major employer of Fergus Falls, and the most beautiful piece of Architecture that this City has. It could be the one place that would be a draw for the tri-state area. Mike needs to remember that most of these people can’t even use their real names, most likely afraid of losing their jobs, and then Jerome who seems to be against anything that isn’t his idea. Just remember we are bigger than they are, and ignore it.
Jean, what you just said about me is a perfect illustration of what people say about FOK. I have several times in various threads on the Council/FOK interaction said I want to see the Kirkbride preserved and put to a productive use. But, because I, like many others, have pointed out that the petulant and snippish conduct and utterances of people in the FOK are off-putting to believe in more civil discourse in public affairs, you choose to insult me and portray me as hostile to your cause. It appears that I and everybody must agree to everything you say and feel, or we are your enemies. Can you not appreciate how your demeaning words are driving away more people than motivating them to join with you?
Do you want the right to immunize the FOK from a requirement to be civil, as your cause is so noble that it justifies the suspension of civility?
Correction: I meant “off putting to people WHO BELIEVE in more civil discourse” in my immediately recent post.
JMM
First off to Edward Nigma, and John Doe. I have never once badmouthed anyone on here or on Facebook. If i have pointed the finger at someone they have it coming. I have also NEVER threatend anyone on here, just stated facts. If that offends you well then that is too bad. You know that as well as i do. Yes i do point fingers, there is nothing wrong with that. As far as being at the meetings yes i have been there and also seen them on peg access. You both seem to like pointing the finger my way on the insults, naming, ect.. What have you done here on this column? Nothing but badger myself and the f.o.k., and yet it is my/our fault. As both of you figured out i don’t take someone pushing me. Maybe thats why you see me as a threat cuz you can’t bully me and i don’t run when called names. John Doe, what a great name. I use my real name on this forum. I will post my info when you 2 post your real names. Yes i will check the names to make sure they are right. Obviously you have more to hide than i do! I’m not scared, i don’t need to hide behind a screen to do things. Why should i do your homework for you? You have a copmputer, do the homework yourself. Like i said i have NEVER layed threats out there, so show me where you base this from, for there isn’t any. I can say this if you think i am a straight forward person i would love to hear you speak to the mayor. Maybe take your time, money, ect. and come and sit in our meetings and see how ours are run.
I’m sorry Mike, we have done our homework. We have checked with the Minnesota League of Cities about your claims of being on a City Council and they have never heard of you. If you like calling a spade a spade, then let’s just start calling you what you are: a fraud. There’s a reason why you do road construction and don’t sit on a council, it’s because you lack education.
Yes, it’s that obvious to the rest of us. What representative would ever come to another city’s meetings looking the way you do: nasty, hole-filled t-shirts and jeans, covered in dirt and oil, unkempt, smelly. Sad that you represent the FoK very well looking like that though.
As for our names, that has nothing to do with the matter. If our names are a convenient way to dismiss the common sense message we bring for your own benefit, then by all means, choose the path of ignorance.
It’s convenient for you to say you don’t call names when they can be deleted from Facebook right away. Don’t worry, our job is done here. You’ve been exposed. You can go away now, fraud.
Edward, if you did call them you would also know what town i am from. As far as your petty finger pointing i would start by pointing to you. I did state i would tell you if you guys reveil your real names. I am holding my end. You are the ones that are scared to provide information. What does my work have to do with anything? Last i did know it wasn’t a standard to look a certain way. As far as me coming straight from work (taking time off) that is my concern). You should understand that you harvard graduate! You seem to know everything so why aren’t you on the board? As far as going away? Highly doubtful. I am free to go wherever i please. This only shows your not what you claim to be. Me a fraud? Doubtful, you are the fraud. I know what i am about, i call it as it is. Can you honestly sit there and say you do? Of course not, your a tough guy living in fantasy land in front of your computer.
Did a google search and within 2 min I knew which town Mike Erickson represents. Just sayin…
Has it occurred to you that there may be more than one Mike Erickson? Just sayin…
(HINT: It’s not this guy)
Sooooo when I google you Edward it comes up as the Riddler??? So I am thinking its like the pot calling the kettle black here? Just sayin…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riddler
Julie, you are right on here. I never knew M.l.c. was open on the weekends, more less on memorial day weekend.
Oh and are we all grown ups?? Cuz its starting to sound like a grade school playground. Just my opinion.
Julie, I stand my ground, won’t be pushed. As much as she can push i’m not moving. lol