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April 19, 2000
Council OKs Alzheimer'sbuilding projectDenies money forfootball field repairBy KREMENA TODOROVA Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- A planned 16-person facility for people with Alzheimer's gained City Council approval Thursday, as councilors voted 4-1 to rezone the land in question to accommodate multiple-family construction. The rezoning was conditioned on constructing this particular project, and would not take effect in any other case. The project would take up six lots located northwest of Birchwood Drive, adjacent to Highway 14. Adjacent properties have single- or two-family residence zonings. The rezoning will help construct a duplex-style residential facility, featuring four private and two shared bedrooms on each side with shared dining, kitchen and bathroom facilities. The building will be equipped with security systems and staffed around the clock. The site will also include ten-stall parking and a fenced-off courtyard. The project is planned for completion this construction season. Michael Demmer, President of Prairie Senior Cottages, the Minnetonka company to build the facility, stressed that his objective was to provide home-style care for older adults, as an alternative to an institutionalized setting. Demmer quoted market research as showing that the services could be potentially utilized by 450 people within 10 miles of New Ulm and 2,000 within 25 miles. The dissenting vote came from Councilor Joel Albrecht, who questioned the appropriateness of the site. The proposed location is on a major highway, and the noise would "cause distress" to the home's residents, said Albrecht. "We are rezoning this especially for this project," he stressed. "We should not do it, if the reason is not sound in our minds." Other councilors defended the plan. "I am a firm believer is a mixture of density and a mixture of residents in neighborhoods," said council member Clark Tuttle. The project has in past weeks been questioned by neighborhood home owners, concerned that it may alter the character of the neighborhood, encouraging the construction of commercial apartments in the future. Johnson Park football field repair In a heated discussion, the council voted 3-2 to deny a $6,000 supplemental appropriation to the city's 2000 parks and recreation budget, that would help repair Johnson football field. The repairs were requested by coaches from New Ulm Public High School and Cathedral High School, who say the playing surface has deteriorated to the point where serious injuries could arise. The coaches asked that the money is used to buy new sod, offering to organize athletes to install it on a voluntary basis. The appropriation was also recommended by the city Park and Recreation Commission. But councilors said that re-directing public money, budgeted for other projects, to the field is not jusitified. "Repairs should be part of the normal budgeting process," stressed council President Dan Beranek. "This should not be a surprise, sprung on us now," said council member Ron Fleischmann. In turn, Tuttle emphasized the need for a financial involvement from the local school districts who heavily use the field. City use fees charged to the schools fail to cover maintenance costs, Tuttle stressed. "At some point we will have to consider whether we can continue providing this service," said Tuttle. "Schools benefit greatly from the field. ... It would be a different situation, if they were to contribute, say, $1,000 each." Councilors Albrecht and Denny Warta, who voted in favor of the repairs, justified their vote with the need to phase in upcoming spending. "We'll have to rebuild bleachers (to comply with state rules) at some point,"said Albrecht. "If we authorize this (the requested repairs), there would be one less thing to worry about in the future. B&B regulations In other business, the council waived restrictions in its bed and breakfast regulations, to allow one bed-and-breakfast, Deutschestrasse Bed & Breakfast on South German Street, to light a sign advertising the establishment. Councilors, however, stopped short of permanently amending B& B regulations -- a move recommended by the New Ulm Planning Commission who stress that the city's current B&B rules are different from its rules for other home-based businesses. While B&Bs cannot light their signs, other home-based businesses can. The council, however, opted to keep B&B rules unchanged, pending a comprehensive review of the city's overall policy on signs, the outcome of which is due to be reported this September. In other business, the council * Awarded a $313,821 contract for the construction of a new public vehicle storage building to Farasyn Construction. The move was opposed by Tuttle, who argued that the magnitude of the project exceeded original plans for a modest, unheated structure. According to city staff members Al Gag and Tom Patterson, the selected building, which features precast walls and roof, radiant heating and a concrete floor, will have an "almost indefinite life span," and "would appear to be cost effective." The lower-cost alternative would have had a metal roof and no floor or heating.
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