by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
The Sartell City Council should start having conversations about a location for a community center, council member Amy Braig-Lindstrom said at the last council meeting.
City Administrator Mary Degiovanni, however, told Braig-Lindstrom the city first needs input from the school system, especially regarding gymnasium space and other facilities. Only then, after input from the school district, can the city determine what it will need for a center and that, in turn, might determine just where it should be built.
Braig-Lindstrom then asked whatever happened to plans for remodeling or adding onto the Bernick’s Arena as a temporary transitional place for a senior center? That discussion, she said, should have happened during the council’s financial management-plan workshop. Braig-Lindstrom, who is the city’s liaison for the Sartell Senior Connection, said the Bernick’s idea had been discussed at a meeting of that senior-citizen group.
Degiovanni said the Bernick’s idea had never come before the council in any way, shape or form, and that is why it was not discussed.
Council member David Peterson said it might be a good idea to have another financial-planning workshop.
Council member Steve Hennes said he is not in favor of any temporary fixes regarding functions a center will provide.
“We’ve had good discussions,” he said. “Let’s build it right. Let’s not add a little here and a little there, although updates (to the council) would be OK.”
