Just a quick note while following the discussion
about shared government. In 1995-96 the citizens of Rollingstone came up
with the idea to have a shared facility with the school district. We knew
the old Rollingstone School would be condemned and/or closed, so we went to the
legislature to obtain special legislation to build what is now the Rollingstone
Community School.
While some may think this
was an "underhanded" way to build a school, we in the community thought
otherwise. A fund drive was started and $100,000 was raised as a show
of support of the concept of a school/ city building. In hearings
before legislative committees then, several legislators questioned whether or
not this would be setting a dangerous precedent. Amber Reischott-Young
countered then by convincing the panel it would be a good precedent and that if
any other community that could come up and "put their money where their
mouth is" should be supported.
Basically what the legislation
provided was the opportunity for the City of Rollingstone to issue revenue bonds
to construct the new building and lease most of it to the school district
to pay off the bonds. We have our City office in the building and share
other public areas, The City of Rollingstone pays rent and a proportion of
the utilities. We will celebrate our 8th anniversary with a community breakfast
next Friday Jan 14th at 7AM at the Community School.
It became a win-win for both our City
and the school district. To this day, we share much of the building and our
City Clerk serves on our site based team and works with the building secretary
and other staff when needed. This is just an example of how
governments can work together. I also believe that at one time the school
district, county and cities explored joint purchasing agreements and had
auctions of out dated used equipment together. In 1995 we found the
legislature open to new ideas of consolidation and efficiency.
Perhaps that is the place to start again. Dick
Gaffron
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 5:43
PM
Subject: Re: [Winona] Consolidation of
Government
[Winona Online Democracy]
Kathy et al
The Winona-Goodview experiment I refered to was
an 18 month (correct me Arlene) task force effort to examine the possibility
of merging Winona and Goodview. They even produced a promotional video
(if anyone has a copy I would love one), and recommended 'consolidation,' I
think the word was...but Goodview council voted no...that's my
recollection. Does anyone better remember how events unfolded? It
was funded by Blandin or someone, wasn't it?
As for the tax issue, Kathy, I was simply
refering to a distrust of big government. A fear of mandates coming down
the pike. Again, this is all speculation and philosophizing and I have
friends on all eighteen sides of these issues :-)
Bob Sebo
Winona
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