by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com Despite missing two of its members, the remaining quorum of the St. Joseph City Council was able to wade through a short agenda that included an open hearing on Truth in Taxation and discussion of a feasibility study dealing with capital funding for the Jacob Wetterling Community and Recreation Center project. The Jacob Wetterling Community and
Board grapples with life after levy defeat
by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com After a regular school board meeting Nov. 19, the Sartell-St. Stephen board members met in a working meeting to grapple with several questions related to the recent defeated operations levy: what happens now, where do we go from here and why did the levy fail. The immediate future The next chance to try again to pass
School board gathers ideas for creation of new middle school
by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com The Nov. 19 regular Sartell-St. Stephen school board meeting saw the board gathering much information in the form of reports on the remodeling and transformation of the present high school into a middle school to serve grades six through eight. Two other presentation dealt with the district’s World’s Best Workforce Plan Summary, and a construction report
Community Center ready for pickleball action and more
by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com After years of hoping and wishing, the establishment of the St. Joseph Community Center is finally taking shape. The first recreational sport laid out in the new center are two pickleball courts. Now what’s needed are people to use them. When the city took over the care and maintenance of the old Kennedy Elementary School, there
School leaders asking why levy failed
by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com The votes are in and tabulated and the leaders of the Sartell-St. Stephen School District are asking themselves what went awry with the attempt to pass an operations levy referendum in the district. The proposed levy, titled Levy for Learning, was defeated by more than 1,600 votes. What happened? “Well, I’m not sure,” said Superintendent Jeff
City Council considers two 2019 budget areas
by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com The St. Joseph City Council took up two budget items at its regular Nov. 5 meeting: The 2019 draft Enterprise Budget, and the proposed 2019 budget of the Park Board. Total proposed Park Board budget for 2019 is $309,460. In previous actions the Council had accepted the proposal for what is known as the East Park
A conversation with school board candidates
by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com With an election approaching on Nov. 6, five people have filed for seats on the Sartell-St. Stephen school board. Two of them – Jeremy Snoberger and Patrick Marushin – are incumbents. The others are Taryn Gentile, Melinda Vonderahe and Amanda Byrd. The Newsleader contacted each of them by phone and posed several questions to them. The
School district gets positive nod from the auditor
by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com The Sartell-St. Stephen school district received a generally favorable report from KDVBergan Auditors at the Oct. 15 regular school board meeting. The only major misstep on the district’s part was that in the student activities account no established procedures existed that would provide assurance that all cash collections are recorded in the accounting records. In addition,