Sartell-St. Stephen School Board Advances Riverside Intermediate HVAC Replacement Project Amid Funding Debate

(KNSI) — The Sartell-St. Stephen School Board unanimously hired Design Tree Engineering and Bradbury Stamm to work on replacing the HVAC system at Riverside Intermediate School.

In October, the board passed on issuing Long-Term Facilities Maintenance bonds for the $20 million project. Three members believe it should be approved by voters. If they go that route, the question becomes whether to put it on the ballot in August or November.

Superintendent Tom Lee says the approval will help the group immensely. Members have identified the project as necessary but are split on how to pay for it. “We’re committed to making repairs at some level, so the question becomes — One of the reasons why we wanted them voting in their February meeting is so that Design Tree can get going. If we want to have an August election, we have to have something called review and comment to the Department of Education by April 8th.”

Lee hopes the group reconsiders using its bonding authority, adding that should a vote be necessary, he strongly prefers to avoid the general election, but it’s a hard sell. “This is like replacing the roof on your house. From the street no one can tell, right? I know that my roof is no longer leaking but I just spent $20,000 on a roof. That kind of a public campaign is very difficult to educate the public to a level where it can be successful.”

To get it ready for an August referendum will require the group to thread the needle. The application to the MDE would likely be ready with only days to spare before it must be filed.

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