by Dennis Dalman
news@thenewsleaders.com
All Sartell residents are encouraged to fill out a 15-question city survey regarding city services and amenities that could become a part of a possible Sartell Community Center.
The city is taking the survey input until Nov. 15. The League of Minnesota Cities will compile data from the survey and release it sometime in early December. To take the survey, go to the city’s website at www.sartellmn.com. Hard copies to fill out are also available at Sartell City Hall.
The survey actually has two purposes, said Sartell Planner and Developer Anita Rasmussen.
An annual city survey is recommended by the State of Minnesota to gain input as to how residents rate their city services. That input, Rasmussen noted, can then help city officials best determine how to deliver those services – or others – most efficiently and effectively. This is the second year of such a survey for Sartell. And this year, Rasmussen added, city staff decided to include questions about which amenities residents would like to see in a community center, if one should be built.
Currently, a community-center task force is gathering data for a potential center. The city council has decided to expedite the creation of a community center because it has been on the “back burner” for so many years. One of the task force’s duties is to determine if the city should build a new center or have one retrofitted into a current building. A center would be paid for by half-cent-sales-tax revenue to Sartell, in addition to some possible public-private partnerships.
Years ago, the city conducted a community-center survey, as well as public-input meetings. On their amenities wish lists, residents mentioned library, senior citizen meeting area, youth recreation, a pool, kitchen-catering and public meeting place as among the top priorities.
The task force is assigned with determining which amenities are feasible and which are not. The task force will also explore the possibilities of partnerships between the city, the school district and private entities.
The task force’s next meeting will be on Nov. 28. Soon, there will be announcements about public-input meetings.
