Nicollet voters to decide on project

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NICOLLET -- Voters will determine the fate of the $8.1 million Nicollet Community Performing Arts and Education Center project in a referendum vote set for Wednesday, Dec. 15.

Nicollet School Board member Lyn Diefenderfer said the project would make the community proactive instead of reactive in dealing with a new 63-unit housing project near the school. Additional building lots will be available across the road from the school next spring.

The community center project includes two additions, one east and the other west of the existing school. The intent of the project is to help Nicollet grow and create a community center on school property.

The west addition would house an Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) Center that would increase capacity from 10 to 42 children.

Pre-school and latchkey programs would also be part of the addition. Diefenderfer said the purpose of ECFE and related programs is to educate small children, not just house them.

The east addition would include a 400-seat performing arts center with padded seats. A new gym with a hardwood floor would double the amount of gym space the school now has and include an elevated walking and running track.

An exercise room would include free weights, treadmills, stair climbers, and related equipment.

Community rooms would be available for rent and would be used by senior citizens, teens (with pool and ping pong tables) and for public internet access.

With voter approval, construction would begin in June 2005. Completion of the west addition could take place as early as January 2006. The rest of the project is expected to be complete by May 2006.

The current school building opened in the fall of 1987. It will be paid off in February 2006. If voters approve the project, school taxes would remain nearly constant with construction of the new project underway.

"I think most people will buy into the idea of no new taxes," Nicollet School Superintendent Gregg Allen said. "The project would be very useful for the school and community."

Allen said the idea for the project came about after people visited community centers in St. Peter and Lake Crystal and noticed many things they liked. However, the Nicollet version is believed to be the first such project on a K-12 school campus.

Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.