Fromstaff reports

The Austin Public Schools Board of Education is one small step closer to reducing its 2000-2001 operating budget – about $710,591 in cuts have been identified.

Thursday, April 13, 2000

The Austin Public Schools Board of Education is one small step closer to reducing its 2000-2001 operating budget – about $710,591 in cuts have been identified.

However, a Tuesday afternoon work session ended prior to all of the proposed reductions being considered. Schools Superintendent Dr. James Hess stressed the cuts were, as of yet, unofficial; action and approval may be taken at the regularly scheduled board meeting on April 19.

The original goal of the finance committee was to cut $1 million from next year’s budget in order to avoid a greater shortfall.

Lori Volz, district director of management services, had some good news for the board in regards to reinstated funding the district can expect next year. The additional money narrows the necessary reductions to about $865,000.

An additional work session has been scheduled for 3 p.m. April 18, at which time the board will consider budget items that are placed on an expense schedule. Expenses such as coaching allowances and co-curricular stipends are paid from the expense schedule.

There have been a few hiccups in the construction of the panelized home, but both Wellstone and City Zoning and Planning Administrator Craig Hoium explained that the unconventional material was the reason behind the appearance and disappearance of the home’s original foundation.

Wellstone said originally the plan was to use the panelized walls for the foundation as well, but Austin City Code didn’t allow it, so builders have now replaced the panelized foundation with a wooden one. Hoium said it was because the material was non-conventional and, therefore, can’t be allowed unless an approved testing agency has done an analysis. That had been done with the exterior wall and roof, but not for below-grade building, according to Hoium.

The home is one of at least four styles that Greater Minnesota Affordable Housing want to offer, if and when they begin to develop the 55-acre lot west of the J.C. Hormel Nature Center.

Although Greater Minnesota has made a choice to build with the panelized walls and ceiling, Wellstone explained that the company wouldn’t insist that the homes in their proposed development use them. Because the homes will be presold, it is the choice of the homeowner, he said.

Construction of panelized or stick-built homes won’t be starting immediately, however, because the orderly annexation of the lot failed at the Lansing Township Board meeting two weeks ago. The developers and landowner David Morse are pursuing annexation by ordinance with the city of Austin.

Wellstone is bothered by criticisms that the development will harm the nature center. He points to the fact that the development will stop the erosion on the land, therefore, increasing the water quality in Dobbins Creek and, ultimately, East Side Lake. He also said they have revised their conceptual plan to remove the five homes closest to the nature center, leaving a broader buffer area between the development and the center.

"Our homes will be a lot farther from the nature center than the ones that are already there," Wellstone said. "We’re not going to go away. This is a community in real need of housing. We have a great site, and I think once the correct information gets out there, people will like what we plan to do."