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| Post Number: 31
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Frustrated
Unregistered
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Posted on: Feb. 02 2004,3:08 pm |
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Still seems to me like there not making adequate use out of the Brookside jr high bldg.
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| Post Number: 32
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Tom Newell
Unregistered
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Posted on: Feb. 02 2004,3:25 pm |
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That is school property, and although it would be nice to be able to group all the local government buildings together and say these are our buildings, for this specific library issue it would be best not to go there. If you choose to we will get lost in the turf war that will follow.
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| Post Number: 33
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BeBack
Unregistered
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Posted on: Feb. 02 2004,3:55 pm |
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A new firehouse, properly located and staffed would reflect favorably to property owners in the way of annual insurance cost. Now where did this issue come from? Do they need more space than they currently have? How long has it been an issue? How many other city employment groups need a new building? Do they all need a view of the lakes? Do we have anything more valuable that could be taken off the tax rolls and used for a civic project? Is there a list or are we going to get these building requests one at a time until Albert Lea dries up and blows away?
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| Post Number: 34
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jimhanson 
Group: Moderator
Posts: 8491
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Feb. 02 2004,4:15 pm |
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BeBack--the fire department hasn't put in a request. The possibility came up on the old Trib. forum--the fire department gets along just fine there, but there is no operational reason for them to be located in City Hall--the building was just available. The exits from the Fire Hall aren't the best--going North, only Bridge ave.--going to the west, they can go down Fountain, or have to go through downtown to Main--no clear shot going East--and South means going through downtown, and possibly getting stopped by train traffic. Most new firehouses have a pull-in, pull-out design.
Moving the fire dept. out would make the space available, and increase parking--one of the shortcomings listed in the survey for the present location--and it is cheaper than building a new library.
One of the other options that was not considered is to add on to the lake side of the library--over the entrance to the old Bookmobile garage--in effect, making an "L" of the existing building. I'm sure it could be done much cheaper than the $10,000,000 project cost talked about (unless the County gets hold of it--then we'll have Lease-Revenue bonds and it will cost $25,000,000!  (sarcasm) It would be contiguous space, wouldn't require strengthening floors, and most important, would still have a Lake view! (sarcasm)
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"If you want to anger a Conservative, tell him a lie. If you want to anger a LIBERAL, tell him the TRUTH!"
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| Post Number: 35
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The Advocate
Unregistered
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Posted on: Feb. 02 2004,8:39 pm |
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If the entire County is going to be paying for a new library then why are not the County Commissioners involved in this newest venture? Those of us that reside outside Albert Lea will have as the old saying goes "Taxation without representation" I believe there are questions of legality here. Would someone who is aware of this please advise the rest of us?
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| Post Number: 36
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Pleasure
Group: Members
Posts: 14
Joined: Dec. 2003
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Posted on: Feb. 02 2004,8:45 pm |
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If you are going to build a new Library,then it should go to a public Referrendum and let the voters decide.
Not do what the Chicken $hit county Commissioners did for the new courthouse.
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| Post Number: 37
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BeBack
Unregistered
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Posted on: Feb. 02 2004,8:46 pm |
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I have never had a parking problem when I have visited the library. If I couldn't get a spot up top, I generally found one down below. Only once did I have to park at St. Theodore's and I didn't mind the walk. I think parking is a bogus issue trumped up to justify building a new library.
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| Post Number: 38
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To A TEE
Unregistered
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Posted on: Feb. 02 2004,8:52 pm |
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Because the library study was already approved by the Albert Lea City Council and the County Board of Commissioners were not involved from the very start there is a conflict of interest between the two bodies, hence, the Albert Lea City Council has no authority to tax the county residents. After having said that it is obvious that whatever study is conducted and whomever conducts it the outcomes will just be a reflection of what those authorizing the study want in the first place. And that is the very reason why the residents of Albert Lea and Freeborn County are upset. Their voices are not heard. Our voices can only be heard at the ballot box. We have to get rid of those representatives that do not represent their constituents.
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| Post Number: 39
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Willie
Unregistered
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Posted on: Feb. 02 2004,9:02 pm |
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The county commissioners have never done anything in thirty years I have been here. That is until they fell in love with the plans for the new court house. Being they got that all screwed up I think you will see them going back to doing next to nothing on a new library building. But then I could be wrong again, because 4 of the commissioners and Gabe have a great appreciation for new buildings.
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| Post Number: 40
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Slick
Unregistered
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Posted on: Feb. 03 2004,1:07 pm |
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A guest suggested the fire fighters pension being used to build a new firehouse at no cost to the tax payers. How does that work, or is that just some more local humor?
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