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Standing room only at school referendum meeting

Staff photo by Fritz Busch A roomful of people attend a school bond referendum meeting in the GFW (Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop) Elementary School Cafeteria in Gibbon Monday night.

GIBBON — It was standing room only at a GFW (Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop) proposed school bond referendum meeting in the Elementary School Cafeteria Monday night.

The district will hold a special election Tuesday, Nov. 7, seeking voter approval of two ballot questions.

Question 1 would authorize the district to issue up to $37,895,000 in general obligation school building bonds to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities including repair, renovation and remodeling, and upgrading of the school sites in Gibbon and Fairfax plus acquisition of land for the expansion and renovation of the school in Winthrop.

Question 2 would authorize the district to issue up to $1,570,000 in general obligation school building bonds to provide funds for the acquisition, construction, and equipping of an additional gymnasium in Winthrop. Approval of Question 2 is contingent on the passage of Question 1.

Approval of the ballot question would cause a tax increase beginning in 2018. Debt service tax levies would be in place for 20 years.

The School Building Bond Agricultural Property Tax Credit will provide agriculture property owners with a 40 percent credit for the taxes attributable to school district debt service for all agricultural property, except for the house, garage, and one acre.

The ongoing credit will be directly deducted from property taxes owed and would apply to debt service taxes for all types of existing and future building bonds for construction and renovation projects, beginning for property taxes payable in 2018.

For more information, visit http://www.ehlers.com-inc.com/custom/taxinformation/GFW/

Tami Martin, GFW superintendent, said absentee ballot registration is available in the high school office in Winthrop. A new Minnesota law, approved in 2013, allows voters to request absentee ballots regardless of whether they can get to their polling places on Election Day. Absentee ballots for the GFW special election became available at Sibley County Auditor’s Office Sept. 22.

Any eligible voters may apply for an absentee ballot by mail, email or fax and vote during the 46 days before the election in the County Auditor’s Office or by mail. If an applicant is not registered to vote, they will register as part of the absentee voting process. For more information visit http://www.co.sibley.mn.us/news_detail_T1_R361.php

If the referendum passes, pre-kindergarten through second grade classes would be taught in Gibbon; and grades 3-6 in Fairfax and 7-12 in Winthrop. Much of the Winthrop school would be demolished and rebuilt at the site after nearby property is acquired.

Martin said the new 7-12 high school alignment would allow seventh and eighth graders to take Spanish, foods, industrial technology and agriculture classes.

“We’re excited about the new proposed Gaylord medical school too,” Martin said. “We’d like to partner with them in some medical courses. It’s a hope, a possibility.”

A task force created to examine building needs and find solutions determined that $16.2 million was needed to take care of most of the district’s primary needs for eight years. A $26.8 million proposal would take care of primary needs and highest high school needs for about 20 years. A $39.9 million proposal would take care of all primary and secondary needs for the next 50 years.

The task force determined that it was important to keep a school in each of the three communities and that daycare is important to increase to all-day in Gibbon.

In addition, the task force determined that in all three schools, asbestos tiles need to be removed, and entrance safety and roofs need improvement.

In Fairfax, replacement needs include corroded pipes, windows, water infiltration and improved air quality. In Gibbon, a basement library often floods, the playground needs to be redone for better safety and more space for early learning is needed. In Winthrop ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliance needs to be addressed, plus improved air quality and industrial technology ventilation.

A number of people preferred a one-school concept to save money long-term. Other people opposed that idea.

“You’ll probably have to consolidate. Go out and buy 30 to 40 acres of land between all three towns,” a man said. “It’s like spending a lot of money to fix an old car. It’s a money drain. Why not meet with Buffalo Lake-Hector and Cedar Mountain?”

Martin said Cedar Mountain schools just completed a remodeling project. She said the task force did not have a sit down meeting with BLH officials.

“People would be glad to pay a few million for maintenance work,” a man said.

A man questioned R A Morton Construction Managers owner/president/CEO Preston Euerle managing his own construction project.

“I’m looking after you,” Euerle said.

Earlier in the evening, the GFW board unanimously approved the 2017 payable 2018 maximum levy certification. This will allow any changes without an additional board meeting. The final levy certification will take place Dec. 18 when the board makes a final determination on the levy amount.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.

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