[Winona Online Democracy]
David,
You make some good points. If, in the 1970's, there had not been only a
choice of razing the old courthouse or remodeling it to house almost all
county offices, we could then have preserved the old interior and used the
building for court activities only. The building that was built across the
street could have been larger to house more offices etc. As for Rochester,
I have lived to practice (as lawyer or judge) in three different courthouses
there. The courts in the new building were badly designed and the offices
behind the courtrooms are already overflowing. Only one of the four
courtrooms was built to accommodate a jury trial. I predict that within 15
years they will have to build another one or add to what they already have.
The other portions of the complex appear to be very adequate, but I have had
little experience with them. Building new is not always a good solution,
but it is easier to accommodate electrical, heating, air conditioning
services in a new facility. I have little construction experience so I feel
quite inadequate about making specific recommendations. I think that the
old courthouse ought to be preserved if only as an historical monument. I
hope to hear from others about what should be done. Incidentally, I believe
that only one County Commissioner subscribes to online democracy. We may
have to use other means of communication in order to give the commissioners
some ideas.
----- Original Message -----
From: David Knight <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 'Winona Online Democracy' <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2001 10:30 AM
Subject: [Winona] Courthouse Rennovation
> [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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