by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
For several years, the City of Sartell has planned to make improvements to Pinecone Road north to 35th Street N and to 27th Street N. from CR 1 to Pinecone Road. The City and the Sartell-St. Stephen School District have been in constant communication about these improvements because of the impact on the two elementary schools, Pine Meadow and Oak Ridge, as well as the intersection on Seventh Street that leads to the middle school and high school.
In early 2015, the District embarked on an extensive facilities study to determine how to handle space issues in all of the school buildings. At that time, both parties determined it would be best to hold off on improving Pinecone Road north of Seventh Street, and also on 27th Street, until the future of the district’s facilities was determined.
With last week’s school board vote for a bond referendum for a new high school at Pinecone Road and 35th Street N., the city will determine final scope and timing of improvements to Pinecone Road and 27th Street in coordination with the new school’s construction timing. The city and district will continue to work together to ensure the improvements to Pinecone Road and 27th Street fit within the city’s plan as well as meet the needs for the traffic flow of a new high school.
