[Winona Online Democracy]
Did anyone else watch the County Board discussion about the Courthouse
during their meeting last night? I'm sitting here today, still wondering
what the 3 supporters of the motion to move the courts back into the
courthouse and begin rennovation immediately were thinking.
As a County employee, it is difficult to make too many comments regarding
the Board's action, as they are my employers. The comments I make here are
certainly not intended to be derogatory or insubordinate in any way. As an
employee, I am hoping that we will have an opportunity to address our
concerns and opinions to the Board as well.
As a citizen, I am frustrated by the short-sighted-ness (is that a word?)
of their actions and opinions. What would it hurt to have taken the time to
meet with a trained facilitator to try and come up with a "unified" position
or direction? I have heard Commissioner Stoltman's views on a "campus with
the Courthouse as the focal point" opinion for weeks, yes even prior to the
first cost estimates were received from Wold Architects. He has said it
enough times, to enough people, that now it is his "only" vision. A campus,
extended beyond the boundaries of the current courthouse grounds? What
happens to Walz Buick, Culligan, Winona Rental, Winona Monument, the
Redmen's, Kennsington etc??
It seems that I also heard last night that two of the three supporters of
this motion also have taken any decision making away from the citizenry by
making statements that "the public won't support a $30 million bond issue".
No vote, no discussion, just an opinion. But apparently it has been decided.
At least one of them said he wouldn't even ask. I realize full well that
Winona historically has not supported the expenditure of public tax dollars
for bricks and mortar. But is an accessible, cost effective, energy
efficient, one stop location for tax payers to do government business, and
government to administer its business, viewed the same way as a new school
building? I wonder.
It is my understanding that City Hall also has some concerns about the long
term sustainability of the building housing most of the City offices. Has
any consideration been given to co-locating City and County government
offices in a single government center?? Certainly we can't construct the
"glorified monument" that Olmsted/City of Rochester constructed to house
their County, City and Law Enforecement/Jail entities in its downtown, but
is the "idea" of co-locating those services a bad one?
Did anyone really listen to the County Attorney's comments last night? I
know the Board "heard" him speak, but did they really listen to what he was
saying? I wonder. In addition to the concerns about the courthouse as an
adequate place for the Criminal Justice System to operate in the future,
what about the molds and air quality contamination that may linger? Do we
want to risk a future of "sick building syndrome" and the costs related to
sick employees?
The Courthouse can be preserved for historical purposes without having to
spend $8 million or more to create another "albatross" as was done in
1973-75.
I can't take up this much space or time, but I would ask in retrospect,
echoing the plea made on the face of Tuesday's Winona Daily News, that we
take time to PLAN; or are we caught up in an avalanche that is gaining
momentum, and forcing our leaders to make quick decisions, in the face of
impending disaster, that will have short term results, but perhaps long term
consequences? This is a perfect example of "shopping for solutions" or a
"quick fix" without taking time to analyze the entire situation. It is time
for all of Winona County to come forward and offer ideas and voice their
support and concerns. We must take the time to plan. If we continue to
operate in a "crisis management mode" we will "manage the crisis" but we
absolutely will never reach a long term vision or plan that will last
another 25-50 years.
David J. Knight
Social Service Supervisor
Winona County Human Services
Phone: 507-457-6256
Fax: 507-454-9382
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