Sauk Rapids City Council to Swear in New Mayor, Hear ISD 47 Referendum Update Monday Night

(KNSI) — It’s a big meeting for the Sauk Rapids City Council on Monday night.

Mayor-Elect Jason Ellering will take the oath of office as will new council members Dottie Seamans and Clinton Holmgren. There will be a special recognition for outgoing Mayor Kurt Hunstiger for his years of service to the city.

The council will then begin to fill Ellering’s vacant seat now that he serves as the city’s mayor. The council must declare a vacancy and decide how to complete the remaining two-year term. A special election isn’t required because only a half-term is left, but that is an option. The other routes the city can take are appointing a person or interviewing candidates and then filling the role.

Sauk Rapids-Rice Superintendent Brad Bergstrom will give an update on a school district referendum involving a land swap with the city. In December, Sauk Rapids gave the thumbs up for the swap for a childhood center. In exchange for about 10 acres of Mayhew Creek Park, the city would get about 17 acres from the district. Pending voter approval next month, the district plans to build a new 60,000-square-foot early childhood education center on the land. The city says it will preserve its portion for future parks and recreational opportunities.

A referendum will go in front of voters on February 11th to answer two questions. Question one would build the center to replace the Hillside facility. According to district officials, enrollment in preschool and kindergarten has almost doubled in the last two years, leading to a need to address current space issues. The current Hillside building is around 40,000 square feet. A study showed expanding the building would cost almost as much as building a new one. The estimated cost is around $37.2 million. Question two would create a new outdoor activity complex at the high school to replace the existing middle school stadium, costing $17.7 million.

The questions are independent, so voters can decide to do one or the other, or both.

If both measures pass, the projected tax impact on the district’s median-valued home of $260,000 would be approximately $3.00 per year.

The meeting gets underway at 6:00 p.m. at Sauk Rapids City Hall.

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