Johnson

GIBBON — The Gibbon Fairfax Winthrop (GFW) school board heard community presentations at a special meeting-work session at Gibbon Elementary School Thursday.

Winthrop City Administrator Jenny Hazelton said Winthrop has at least two options that will meet or exceed the amount of land a school would need for a one-school or two-school option. She said the locations are served by state highways and the City of Winthrop would be responsible for necessary project construction up to school property, providing the best and safest access.

Hazelton said Winthrop would have engineer-verified infrastructure for all utilities and city owned and maintained electricity with rate competitive with any service in its district area.

She said Winthrop has a strong history of industrial growth, works on retaining current industry and is working on future housing plans with help from the Winthrop EDA (Economic Development Authority) and Winthrop Opportunities.

“All demographic numbers presented support the highest potential for growth in the district,” Hazelton said. “We have the highest city population, highest student district enrollment and are closest to other schools that most of our students are going (Sibley East, New Ulm, Glencoe, and Lafayette).”

Hazelton said Winthrop is closest to the new Minnesota School of Osteopathic Medicine planned to be created in the former Gaylord Public School. She said Winthrop is less than an hour away from at least seven other colleges for students to connect with.

She said Winthrop has a number of businesses that would allow students technical study opportunities including two clinics and chiropractors, agricultural-related businesses including United Farmers Cooperative, Winfield Solutions, Dairy Farmers of America and Heartland Corn Products, plus mechanics, an electrician, plumber, dentist and a pharmacy.

Hazelton said Winthrop does not have any use for a vacated site at this time, the city will continue to seek a solution for the (school) district.

Gibbon City Administrator Dana Lietzau said 36.3 acres of land are available for a new school that would require more than 30 acres of land.

She said the City of Gibbon buys electrical power from Xcel Energy and completed a new water plant in 2014. Lietzau said the City of Gibbon projects raising utility costs two percent per year.

A Gibbon City Councilor said there is interest in providing infrastructure to a new school building such as a frontage road.

Lietzau said the City of Gibbon would be interested in an existing school building if it would be vacated.

Fairfax City Administrator Nick Johnson said 35.25 acres of property are available including 18.16 acres of existing GFW Middle School property and 17.09 acres of Lions Park property owned by the City of Fairfax.

Johnson said Lions Park ballfields and other recreation facilities could be utilized to suit GFW athletic needs without full replacement at an off-highway location for greater student safety and traffic flow plus ample parking already available.

He mentioned three other secondary potential farm land options around the edge of Fairfax that have adjacent utilities in nearby streets.

Johnson said the City of Fairfax has no future use plans for existing school facilities if they are not part of a school referendum project other than demolition and site preparation for housing lots.

Superintendent Lonnie Seifert said he has contacted the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) about using long-term facilities funding, instead of bond referendum money, to renovate the existing football field and track in Winthrop for about $1 million.

“I was told we could use that money if the project replaces but does not expand the existing facilities, which could include adding ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliant visitors seating and replacing lights at the football field,” Seifert said.

He said the Minnesota Legislature’s recent passage of Agricultural Tax Credit would cover up to 70 percent of new referendum property tax on hike farms by 2023. Seifert said he will contact the accounting firm working with the district to determine how the tax credit changes could reduce the tax impact of a bond referendum.

Regarding the possibility of a geothermal heating and cooling option with a new school project, Seifert said it would initially cost more than a conventional heating and cooling system but would be cheaper to operate in the long run.

The board will consider future facilities options and a potential building site at the Monday, June 17 board meeting.

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