Protest

precedes

name change for

city facilities

Senior Center becomes New Ulm Community Center; Fairgrounds Community Center becomes New Ulm Recreation Center; Vogel Arena with its Family Recreation Center becomes Vogel Fieldhouse.

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- What's in a name?

An emotionally charged issue if the word senior is dropped from it, the New Ulm City Council discovered Tuesday night.

A group of senior citizens, led by Charles Griebel, came to protest the loss of the word from the Parks and Recreation Commission's recommended name of Arts and Activities Center for the enlarged Senior Center.

"We were never told that the word senior would be removed from the building," Griebel told the council. "That's an extremely deep hurt for me."

"I can't believe that the name could be that important," Council President Dan Beranek replied. "I know a couple of 85-year-olds who won't go down there because they don't like the word."

Arguing that the name should be more inclusive, Councilor Ruth Ann Webster told Griebel, "We have many young people who haven't a place to go."

It was left to CAST Volunteer Director Diane Fosse to broker a negotiated settlement.

"We use the center six days a week, and Arts and Activities just doesn't cut it," the head of Community and Seniors Together said. "Why not some other name like Center for Active Generations? We feed 30-60 people a day; every single program is growing."

"Well, would taking Community Center from the Fairgrounds work for you?" Beranek asked.

Looking quickly around at the seniors present, Fosse said, "Yes, it would."

So, the Senior Center name gave way to New Ulm Community Center, the Fairgrounds Community Center became New Ulm Recreation Center and Vogel Arena with its Family Recreation Center became Vogel Fieldhouse.

With that resolved, the council quickly was back on the defensive again in dealing with Hy-Vee, Inc.'s request for a parking variance so a gas station can be built in its parking lot.

A group representing other tenants in the strip mall appeared to object to what seemed to them a loss of parking spots for their businesses. The action got so heated that Beranek gaveled a 10-minute break so Hy-Vee's representatives could explain their parking proposal to the other tenants.

When the council returned to business, Evie Domeier, volunteer manager of the MRCI Bargain Store, stepped to the microphone to tell the council that there was, indeed, more parking for the tenants.

Another issue concerning Hy-Vee employees parking at the south end of the lot by the other tenants also had been resolved during the break. Hy-Vee Manager Tom Hobt said he wasn't aware until talking with Domeier that there was a problem of employees parking there. "It will not be used for employee parking," Hobt promised.

However, questions remained about Hy-Vee's 20th South Street entrance and the its traffic risks. Randy Downs of Hy-Vee, Inc.'s engineering department in West Des Moines, Iowa, utilized Minnesota Department of Transportation figures to prove that the stretch from the intersection of Broadway and 20th South to Hy-Vee's 20th South entrance wasn't that dangerous. Therefore, Hy-Vee did not plan to do anything about the location of their curb cut.

This evaluation drew a somewhat terse response from City Engineer Steve Koehler that MnDOT's data wasn't reflective of the city's data on that intersection.

"If we're going to do something about it, this is the time to get it done. Otherwise, it will never get done."

A motion by Councilor Clark Tuttle granting the parking variance with the condition that Hy-Vee be required to move its 20th South curb cut so that it aligns with Minnesota Street failed for lack of a second.

After some discussion, the council approved Councilor Ron Fleischmann's motion to grant the request with the stipulation that Hy-Vee create a handicap access to the other tenant stores and re-distribute at least one of its handicap parking stalls over to the tenant side of the parking lot.

In other action, the council:

* Approved the sale of $2,200,000 general obligation improvement bonds, Series 2003 to fund 2003 capital improvement projects and $1,165,000 general obligation tax increment refunding bonds, Series 2003 to advance refund $1,135,000 in Series 1993 bonds.

* Ordered in 2003 utility, street and alley improvements-Group 1 and set a public hearing date of Tuesday, March 18, at 7 p.m. on six of the projects contained in that group.

* Approved annexation of Ron and Susan Smith's property into the city and adopted a moratorium on the permitting and erection of advertising signs.