Joyce Gelle, Sartell
In the 1960s when the Sartell residents voted 90 percent to work toward building a secondary school system and had opposition from the St. Cloud school system and the State of Minnesota, my husband Ervin and I were living and operating our 256-acre farm located in LeSauk Township. We served as township clerk and deputy. We took two major steps that resulted in a successful accomplishment of winning our Sartell school system.
Now, those same senior citizens are asking for help in building a library and a place for their Senior Connection organization, as well as space for a Sartell Historical Society as a 501C3 organization to house the many items of history stored in so many houses in Sartell, waiting for a home. The historical society is eligible for grants and more if listed as part of the City of Sartell. What about the Round Barn and metal Quonset building being remodeled for a historical center? I had two contractors tell me that was possible. Also, the half-burned-down farm home has lots of good lumber the industrial students from Sartell High School could (use to) build picture frames or furniture.
Maybe my having grown up to “think outside-the-box to accomplish things” makes me old-fashioned, but I believe all of this can be successful for Sartell to build on the Ferche property. Jason Davis from Channel 5 would be interested in visiting the accomplishments.
I challenge you!