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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-11-1954' C •� Record �of Official Proceedings of the Common Council of the City of Rochester, Minn., January 11, 1954 �� Minutes of a special meeting of the Common Council of the City of ' (i Rochester, Minnesota, held in the Council Chambers.in the City Hall, in said City,j� �j �' on January 11, 19 5�• �� �� �� i, President Bach called the meeting t o order at 7: 30 o' clock P. M. , the i� '; �t following members being .present : President Bach, Aldermen Ackerman, � Anderson, i �� Morris and Schroeder. Absent: ..Aldermen-Thiem and Whiting. '•� I� The call of the special meeting was read and President Bach ordered the ,� �' I� '' �� same placed on.file, _the said meeting having been called for the -purpose of-- • �, �! �, hearing all citiaens interested in the location of a proposed senior high school �' ;� building and any. other business the said. Common Council may deem proper. 'i i ,� c After the reading of the call, President Bach announced that the meeting ,,.� j� was now open to' anyone who wished to be heard on the school question. Mr. Sam �1 t� �� '� �' Allen, President of the School Board of School District No. S, cited various �� � �; reasons ,why the School Board Pelt that the .proposed school bey located in Soldier's�� �� I. Field. The first reason that the area is considered for a site for the school is '� r '� �; on account of a central location. He stated it would not create a traffic problem' � I. and that .a school located in Soldier's Field would be advantageous to the downtown' . I shopping area. Air. D1. D. Cory, Superintendnet of Schools, stated that if this c +. .. i location was not available another one must be found. He Further stated that it �! would be more difficult to float a bond issue for the proposed school if it was �, ;, �! not located in a central area. Mr. Ernest A. Jensen, acting chairman of the Wm. T�; McCoy Post Soldiers Field Committee, stated that it was the opinion of his ,� committee that the proposed school, when built, would become a county high school �� �' which would .create a great deal of traffic in the area of the proposed building �I �� and stated that the Legion thought it would be only a short time after the �� building was constructed that more of Soldier's Field would be needed in connect- ion with the school. Mr. Jensen suggested two alternate sites, the fairgrounds • and the Graham property on 3rd Avenue Southeast. j President Bach stated that there was a legal question involved before- the Council, could dispose of any part of Soldiers Field for other than City �' i' I� � purposes and asked City Attorney, 8. 9. Ehrick, to explain an `opinion which had i; �' been issued from the Attorney General's office. Mr. R. V. Ehrick told those ��� ,, .. ;; present that before any part of Sold�ler's Field could be sold it would have to be I' ,, �� I, determined that it was no to nger needed for park or municipal purposes. ' Mr. Russell M. Lang, President of the Holmes School P. T. A. , stated i� i� that his organization was in favor of the new school being located in Soldier's ' Field. Dr. Mark Anderson asked, "If Soldier's Field was needed during the past ' ;: i; 2� years why isn't it needed more since the City has eloubled. ;': in population"? �• Mr. John W. Young opposed the school being located in Soldier's Field on account • '' ' of the area being flooded during high waters. Dr. L�. A, Brunsting s, oke i P n f avor r (9 0- Record of Official Proceedings of the Common Council of the City of Rochester, Minn., January 11, 1954 of the building being located in Soldier's Field. Mr. Donald arue, from the Planning and Zoning Commission, stated that their Committee had not been requested to study the matter and were not ready to make any statement at this time. Dr. W. A. Merritt, President of Edison School P.T.A.; Mrs. Robert Langton, President of Hawthorne School P.T.A.; Mr. James Hess, President of Washington School P.T.A.; Mr. Phil Sternberg, President of Jefferson School P.T.A. and Dr. A. B. Hale, President of Folwell School P.T.A., each stated that their organizations were in favor of the school site in Soldier's Field. Mr. • James Wilgus, Mr. Stanley McComb, Mr, Wm. Riege and Dr. Philip W. Brown, each spoke in favor4 of the school being located in Soldiers Field. Mr. Ed Capelle stated that he felt that a school located in Soldier's Field would create a traffic hazard. It was requested that Mr. Wm. Van Hook, Superintendent of Parks, speak on the matter. He stated that the Board of Park Commissioners was already on record opposing the school being located in Soldier's Field. He further stated that the facilities in Soldier's Field are very extensively used. Mr. C. A. 'Armstrong, City Engineer, was also requested to speak on.the matter.and made the statement that the streets leading into Soldier's Field would not be adequate for the project and that improvements would have to be made for which finances should be considered. Mr. John Miner asked if a study of the location had been made by an Engineer to determine if streets were adequate and what grade would be necessary ,for the proposed building. Mr. Robert Petersdorf, representing the A.F.L. Building and Trades, suggested that if the School Board were to purchase the site, an amount be paid to the City which would be used to increase recreational facilities in other City parks. The following communications on the matter were read: A telegram from Mr. Clare L. Fischer stating that he was in favor of the proposed school being ,'located in Soldier's Field; a resolution adopted by the Rochester Education Association placing itself on record as fay.ori.ng Soldiers Field as the logical location for a new high school. and ,a communication from Mr. and Mrs. Francis Tracy opposing the use of any part of Soldier's Field for any other purpose than that which it is now being used f or. Rev. Paul Downs requested that the chair call for a standing vote on the matter. The standing vote indicated that many more of those present were in favor of the Soldier's Field location than were opposed to it. President Bach then ordered the hearing closed and the Council recessed for 15 minutes. 1 • LJ LJ President Bach called the meeting to order and the following business • 591 Record of Official Proceedings of the -Common Council of the City of Rochester, Minn., January l 1, _ 1954 1 L s • 1 1 0 was presented for the Council's consideration. A notice. from the Fireman's Civil Service Commission .that the names of Harold Erath and Lawrence Griffin had been certified from the "eligible register for firemen at the Rochester Fire Department was read and upon motion by Ackerman, second by Morris, Harold Erath and Lawrence Griffin were appointed firemen to serve on the Rochester Fire Department. The application of Burnham & Adamson Motor Company for a license to holdi, an auction sale on used cars, on Saturday, January 16., 1954, was read and upon P motion by Anderson, second by Morris, the license was granted. The surety bond of Burnham & Adamson Motor Company in the amount of i $1,00040 with the Fidelity & Casualty Company of New York as ?surety was read and upon motion by Ackerman, second by Schroeder, the bond was approved, the surety thereon accepted and the same was ordered placed on file. i The following claims were read and upon motion by Morris, second by Schroeder, the same were approved.and the Mayor and City Clerk were authorized andi directed to draw warrants upon the City Treasurer and make payments accordingly: From the General Fund: Tom Moore, Register of Deeds, $15.50; Verne i Wussow, $150,00; Alpek.Sheet Metal Works., $1.25; Forges of Rochester, $4.60; Paul Plant z, $22. 50; Mayo Clinic, $15.00; Mrs. George _ B. Cutting, $4.00; Board of j; Park Commissioners, $1.75; Alberta Chance, $15.75; H. A. Rogers Co., $1.31; Mac's Standard Service, $1.50; Pruett's, $3.05; Gray Brothers, $15.00; Lawler's, $3.00; F. W. Woolworth Co., $9:00; LeRoy Hennum, $14.60; Socony Vacuum Oil Co., $56.19; Firestone Stores, $41. ol. From the Street & Alley Fund: Firestone Stores, $72.08; Socony Vacuum Oil Company, $21.67; Lithoprint Company of New York, $46.37; Gopher Welding Supply, I Company, $21,61; Devoe & Reynolds Co., Inc., $20.03, From the Sewer Fund: gehne Electric Co., $194.00. From the Permanent Improvement Fund: Rochester Sand & Gravel, $21.75; Rochester Quarry Co., $24.00. The City Engineer stated that repairs and replacem4uts were needed to the sign holders on the light standards and upon motion by Schroeder, second by Ackerman, the same was referred to the Street & Alley Committee with power to act. Alderman Ackerman introduced a resolution appropriating $12,724.94 from the Park Improvement Fund and ordering payment made to the Mayo Civic Auditorium Revolving Fund. Upon motion by Ackerman, second by Anderson, and all present voting in favor thereof, President Bach declared the said resolution duly passed and adopted. The- res &nation of Mrs. E. S. Burrington from the Board of Publi H lth c ea & Welfare, the same to be effective as soon as a replacement can be appointed, was read and upon motion by Schroeder, second by Morris, her resignation was accepted Record of Official Proceedings of the Common Council , of the City of Rochester, Minn., January 11, 19 54 on condition that she serve until her successor is appointed. Upon motion by Ackerman, second by Anderson,'the meeting was adjourned. U" GL City Clerk