One of our careful researchers helps explain why the Stadium was such a suprise in an email sent to us after last night’s fractious Ordean meeting. (Of course no stadium was on the orignial Ordean High drawings) I’ve shortened the email but this is our observer’s conclusion:
“Researching just this little bit has opened up a whole new can of worms for me. I’m now left wondering if we really ever had a choice between the Red, White, or Blue Plans to begin with? Or was it just a matter of time before they all morphed into one big expensive plan, with the District/Johnson Controls counting on the fact that we wouldn’t notice before it was all too late?”
And this is some of the background she uncovered:
The majority of the citizens who spoke out were still clearly concerned about the traffic safety issues and traffic congestion issues that this site will cause. They voiced their concerns over how this plan is not right for this site. They were also surprised to learn from a District representative (Kerry Lieder?) that “a stadium has been part of this plan from the beginning”. That comment raised quite a stir! I decided to find out how the majority of those in attendance – including myself – could miss something like a new stadium being built as part of this plan from the beginning.
I still have a copy of the March 2007 Duluth School District Solution Options Full Report by Johnson Controls. These were handed out at the initial community meetings when the Red, White, and Blue plans were being presented to the public for their input.
Here is what it says under the Red & White Plan Improvements for the Ordean site (they were grouped together):
Major Addition
Complete Building Reprogramming
Expanded Parking
Stadium Improvements
Here is what it says under the Blue Plan Improvements for the Ordean site:
New Gymnasium
Cafeteria Size/Serving Configuration
Auditorium Updates
General Building Interior Finishes
New Ventilation System
New Heating Plant
Dehumidification
Electrical Updates
1) There seems to be a distinct difference in the definition of terms re what “stadium improvements” means to the citizens of Duluth, versus what “stadium improvements” means to the District/Johnson Controls. Apparently the District/Johnson Controls believes that building a *NEW* stadium at the cost of approximately $6.2 million dollars would be classified as an improvement. Several athletic fields were improved at the Ordean site just a few years ago. (I’m unsure if our tax dollars are still paying for them.) I believe that definition – the recent improvements to the fields at Ordean – is what most citizens think of when they hear the term “stadium improvements” – not a brand new stadium.
