Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Winsted school site proposals



The City of Winsted presented its final proposal on Thursday
to the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Long Range Facilities task force.

Winsted had originally presented its offer in December,
but was given an opportunity to present it publicly, based on the extent
of Howard Lake’s proposal the week before.

Winsted City Administrator Aaron Reeves presented the information,
stating that he would restrict it “to discuss hard facts, not estimates
or projections.”

In terms of offerings, Reeves said that the city has sufficient
cash in its enterprise fund to pay for infrastructure extension costs. Also,
Winsted is willing to pay for water/sewer fees for the first year, he said.

Reeves said he does not foresee dramatic utility increase
in the city and that Winsted has suitable water/sewer capacity and water
quality. All sites the city is proposing would include gravity sewer.

The selected sites would not have any permit or zoning
issues, and three are in residential areas.

A fourth, shown as number two on the map, was not covered
in depth by Reeves, and may or may not be withdrawn from consideration by
architect Bob Abendroth.

There would be no “SAC (sewer access connection) and
WAC” (water access connection) charges assessed to the school district,
and Reeves said the locations are central.

Access is provided from major roads. One site, owned by
Ralph and Charlie Millerbernd, is within walking distance to the city-owned,
lighted football and baseball fields.

All the sites have been examined by the McLeod County environmentalist
and there are no wetland conflicts. The city will help prepare various grants
through NSP and the Department of Agriculture, and Reeves said the city
has a supportive business and industrial community.

Winsted has received a Community Orientated Policing Services
grant. The grant would be used to hire an officer to work primarily with
the school for education and training.

Reeves said each site meets criteria set by Abendroth with
at least 80 acres of land, good topography and soils, and it is not located
in a watershed or flood plain.

View map

Site one is 90 acres and passes the criteria of soils and
topography. There is a 10-inch water main that will supply 4,000 gallons
per minute, with gas main service and three-phase electric service from
NSP. Reeves said that three-phase electric would probably cost $80,000 per
mile if it had to be added.

The site is accessible from Co. Rd. 1 and Main Avenue W.
The land is available within the proposed budget, and the site is near an
existing holding pond as well as the athletic fields and a state-owned,
100-plus-acre wetland.

Site two has been eliminated from the Winsted’s proposal
because of availability conflicts and its southernly location. Abendroth
noted it still would be a viable site.

Site three is 120 acres, owned by Albert Fiecke. It also
passes soil and topography criteria, and has gas main service and electric
from NSP. It is accessible from Sixth Street N., and the land is available
and near three-phase power. It is also within the budget.

Site four, owned by Linus Hertzog, also passed land requirements
with 167 acres. Gas main service is there, as well as electric service from
McLeod Cooperative Power Association. The site is accessible from Carver
Co. Rd. 6 and the cost is within the budget.

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