[Winona Online Democracy]
Thank you for your response Duane. I always enjoy reading your perspective
on issues.
I am not sure that I am even advocating building totally new, but I would
certainly like more infomration about new versus repair, versus a
combination. I am well aware from colleagues in Rochester/Olmsted County,
that their newest building is woefully inadequate in terms of housing all
County and/or City staff. I was not aware of the dilemma regarding
courtrooms.
I appreciate the comment you made about the County Office Building. Not
much has been said about the original design of this building (the one by
the way where my office is housed) having been constructed "intentionally"
to be able to easily add two additional floors to it. This could accomodate
a number of other County offices, probably and most logically, Community
Health. It is handicapped accessible; the elevator is designed to accept
two more floors etc.
I would like to think we could view the "Courthouse Disaster of 2000" as an
opportunity for the citizens and County and City leaders, to devise a long
range plan for the delivery of governmental services in an efficient,
accessible, and cost effective manner. This not only includes the
building(s) that would house these services, but the co-location of "like
services" so as to make the management and delivery of government services
more efficient and cost effective as well.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Duane M. Peterson [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2001 1:32 PM
> To: David Knight
> Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: [Winona] Courthouse Rennovation
>
> [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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> >
> >
>
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