by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Liberty Bank has given the City of Sartell a check for $50,000 to be used as it wishes for any kind of amenities in the soon-to-be-built community center in south Sartell.
The bank’s president, Mark Braegelman, presented the check to the Sartell City Council at its last meeting.
“We really, really appreciate this,” said Sartell Mayor Sarah Jane Nicoll on behalf of the council and city residents. “Liberty Bank has been an amazing part of Sartell for a number of years. Thank you so much.”
In presenting the check, Braegelman said he hopes Liberty Bank’s monetary donation will encourage others to contribute also to Sartell’s community center.
For the past four years, Liberty Bank has established an ongoing working relationship with the City of Sartell. Besides having one of its six branch banks in the city, it sponsors the annual Libertyville fun-fest day in the city, concurrent with the annual Sartell SummerFest. Braegleman praised Sartell as a city that has been re-energized throughout the years with “a lot of good things going on” and a city in which people prosper together.
Liberty Bank, which began in St. Cloud in 1939, also has three branches in St. Cloud, one in Waite Park and one in Monticello.
An official groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Sartell Community Center two weeks ago, although footings had already been poured. Work on the center will continue through the winter into early spring and is expected to open next summer. It will house three gymnasiums, locker rooms, an elevated walking track, a community meeting room, kitchen, kids’ play area and possibly a drop-off-and-pick-up library service via the Great River Regional Library system.
The center, which will cost about $11 million, will be paid for by revenue from the regional half-cent sales tax.
