Letter to the editor: library location

Letter To the Editor:

I know there have been some misunderstandings and confusion about the library and the old elementary school in Kasson, and I would like to do my part in clearing them up. As a note, I am neither a member of the library building committee, nor a member of the KARE organization, but a member of the Kasson-Mantorville community and a library employee and I have some understanding of the discussions that are going around regarding the future of the library.

First, we do need a larger library. We have a smaller facility than communities half our size and we have been making the best of a building that was designated as a “temporary location” nearly 20 years ago. Our shelves of books and movies are overflowing, and we have to withdraw perfectly good items simply because we don’t have room for them. Last year we had over 600 kids sign up for our summer-long reading program, and often had 60+ kids come for storytime. There was barely room for them to all sit. We have to limit or scale back planned events both for kids and adults simply because we don’t have space for them.

The City of Kasson selected the site of the old elementary school as a perfect spot for a larger library. It is centrally located and has enough space for both a building and for parking. The library building committee has been meeting with an architect for months to discuss different options for such a facility, including using the old school as it stands or constructing a new facility.

The old school is a nice-looking building from the exterior. But, as any building that has stood vacant for years, has problems. The interior is growing mold. It is full of asbestos, and water leaks have caused the floors to buckle. It has been used for police training, and garbage has been left inside.

The other issue with the school is that it does not have an ideal floor plan for a library. There are three separate parts to the school, and two levels. This means an elevator would need to be installed (at additional cost) and the hiring of more staff to keep an eye on each section of the building. Though we do need a larger facility, a city of Kasson’s size does not have the funds to rehabilitate a building in poor condition, plus maintain it with utilities and extra staffing.

The library building committee is continuing to work through the process of presenting to the city their recommendation for a library facility. One option would be to reclaim and use elements of the old school in a new building. Another option would be to use green building techniques to minimize the financial impact on our community and the carbon impact on our world. Again, this is an ongoing process, so nothing final has been decided.

Personally, as a library lover, a reader, and a parent (as well as an employee), I would rather have the city of Kasson create a new, larger, functional library that mimics and pays homage to the historic school, rather than spend more dollars in trying to rehab a nice-looking, but asbestos-filled, functionally awkward building that will end up costing the taxpayers more in the end.

Ingvild Herfindahl

Letter to the editor: tour cancelled

Letter to the Editor:

I would like to know who the person was that was to have the 1918 Kasson School open for people to tour on Saturday, May 21st from 1:30-3:00 p.m. One graduate and family drove a great distance to tour the building. Two left another event early so two could tour the school.

There were also handouts passed out of examples of what had been done with other school buildings.

                    Lois Nash   

What's happening around Town?

Flo: Hey Joe, I hear you grew up in this town and while driving around Kasson, I saw a very interesting building on 3rd Avenue. What can you tell me about it?

Joe: Ah! You must be talking about the Tripartite (the three in one) brick building that for 40 years was home to school children from 1st to 12th grades, and for another 47 years still part of the educational system. Why, what caught your eye?

Flo: I liked its style with its Renaissance Villa look and the brick trimmed with Terra Cotta, and then there's the main entrance with that kind of: neo-classical revival-style design that just sets it off, inviting you to come in and sit a spell. Plus that very impressive Water Tower nearby that seems to say, "we belong together." It appears to me that once upon a time, it was the hub of the city activity, with families traveling in and out and children playing on the school grounds, laughing and enjoying the day. It looks like it is sitting empty now. Could it not be refurbished and used once again?

Joe: Well, I am told that after a reuse study was done, it was deemed in relatively good condition and structurally sound. Interior spaces for the most part are large with the load bearing walls lining the corridors and partition walls can be expanded to accommodate other size of rooms as needed. Windows are large enough to filter in natural light and with window upgrades could meet the "green" energy specs. They tell me existing high ceilings, vertical chases, extensive tunnel systems, and connected ducts to rooftop vents, will allow ease in updating the electrical and heating needs of today and would you believe, it has sky lights? It also sits on the highest point in the city!

Flo: I like the idea with its three distinct, separate buildings that it could be utilized for many different functions, and could be developed one building at a time as funding becomes available. What, are the needs and wants of the city families?

Joe; I hear they would like to have a community center- Space to socialize with friends and family and hold community activities. I know for a fact the public library needs more room and wouldn't it be neat to have a children's activity center? I could even see a historical room within the complex which could house school and city memorabilia and could include city, school and library minutes where folks could wander in, read, and get caught up on the activities happening in our community.

Flo: Gee, there looks like with three different buildings, it could house all of that, and I like the idea that it is connected by corridors so one can go from one unit to the other without having to go outside. If I lived in this town, I would enjoy having a coffee shop inside where I could sit and visit or read a book before I head off for home or in the winter months could use the corridors for a strenuous walk from one end to the other, and winters do get long here in Minnesota. Well, gotta' go, but keep me undated on what is happening to that beautiful town square!

Garage Sales

I think K-M must have a pretty good reputation for garage sales. There are some very dedicated people out there who have sales year after year with repeat customers. Many times those same people like to go to garage sales. The Kasson Chamber of Commerce has sponsored Garage Sale Days for many years and it serves as great motivation for people to clear out and organize their homes.

Here's wishing for sunny skies and pleasant temps on May 13th and 14th for Kasson City Wide Garage Sales.

Royal Wedding

I know the royal wedding is a big deal-to some people. I am not in that "some" category. I refused to watch the major network nightly news the last few days leading up to the wedding because that was three-fourths of the nightly news.

The last straw was when I received a list of royal recipes for people having a royal wedding party of their own. Would you believe a wedding cake martini, royal romance, little princess cocktail and bridesmaid cooler? I eliminated that email instantly.

Prince William and Kate Middleton look like the perfect couple. In the public eye Prince Charles and Lady Diana looked like the perfect couple too, and look what happened to their marriage.
The people of England don't seem to mind what a wedding of this magnitude is costing them either. The estimate is $32 million whereby the average "over the top" U.S. wedding is $27,000 and a celebrity wedding up to $5 million.

With a daughter getting married this summer I should feel good about what we are spending. The royal wedding cake is $80,000, flowers $800,000 (How would you like to own the flower shop that got that order?) and the wedding gown $434,000. But wait, rumor has it that the Middleton's paid for the wedding gown. How generous!

Enough already. As you might guess most of us will be glad when it's over and by the time you read this it will be history. Thank goodness!