by Joe Perske, Sartell
There is much excitement in Sartell as residents anticipate the realization of a library in the city. Rightfully so, as the project has for decades been on this city’s top list of desired amenities. Being the largest city in outstate Minnesota without a library, and considering more than 5,000 Sartell residents must now use the Waite Park or St. Cloud libraries, a local library is long-awaited and needed. Unfortunately, some anxiety exists while the city considers several locations for the facility.
It cannot be underestimated how important a central location of the library and/or community center is for its value to the residents. Placing the library close to the schools, day-care centers and majority of homes only makes for common sense to maximize its usage. A central location encourages access for youngsters, families, walkers and bicyclists. Little wonder the city-hall location had been the primary site considered for an adjoining library and senior-center facility. It had also been the recommended site by a resource-facility task force after a year of meetings.
At the last city-council meeting, the city-hall site was dismissed from the list of potential locations for the library/community center and replaced by three other less-central locations. One site, in particular, was given great consideration, the one just south of the Coborn’s Superstore. Named the “Ferche South” site, this location was proposed for enhancing economic development and the creation of a town-square atmosphere.
While that location was given support by some council members, I must say, “Stop and Think.” Why build our community center/library only two blocks away from St. Cloud? If you draw a circle within a one-mile radius from that location, it includes hundreds more St. Cloud residents than Sartell residents. It’s literally right on the school-district boundary as well. More than 98 percent of Sartell and school-district residents live north of that location. It is not family-friendly to the majority of walkers and bicyclists in Sartell.
My recommendation would be to look for central locations that would serve the whole city better. I know there are several central locations that have not been considered or some that were dismissed without adequate investigation. Possibly reconsider the city-hall location for the library and seniors. Allow for some open dialogue, residents’ input, plan review and public commentary before moving forward with final plans.
The bottom line is we have waited and wanted this for so long that it’s so important we do it right. A central location is right.