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<br />- - <br /> <br />Independent School District <br /> <br />ADMINISTRATION OFFICES <br />327 King Avenue <br />Elk River, MN 55330 <br /> <br />728 <br /> <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />DR. ALAN JENSEN <br />Superintendent of Schools <br /> <br />(763) 241-3400 Fax (763) 241-3407 <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />September 16, 2004 <br /> <br />Mr. Pat Klaers <br />13065 Orono Parkway <br />Elk River, MN 55330 <br /> <br />Subject: Elementary School in East Elk River <br />Dear Pat: <br /> <br />I met with representatives of Orrin Thompson Homes a couple of weeks ago at <br />their request. They suggested that they might be willing to donate land for a <br />school in their proposed development if everything could be worked out. I <br />expressed interest in continued discussion. Yesterday we met again to look at <br />their proposal in detail and to visit the site. As they plan to meet with the council <br />soon, I thought it appropriate for me to give you our thoughts on the matter. <br /> <br />As you know, we have also had conversations with Mr. Ed Dulek about receiving <br />donated land as part of his proposed development. While we are interested in all <br />property possibilities, I thought it would be helpful for you and the council to <br />understand how the district administration views the positive and negative <br />aspects of each property. <br /> <br />The cooperation with the Orrin Thompson Company has been candid and <br />productive. The land offered by them is within the Urban Service Area and <br />utilities are not far away. We are being offered 18 acres, which is less than the <br />size needed for an elementary school. However, we have been told that the <br />developer to the south would be willing to include an additional 10 acres if the <br />deal could be worked out with the city which, I am sure, includes park dedication. <br />The major negative aspect of this property is that large power lines run through <br />the property that is being donated and location in the center of residential <br />development. Because we would not want to build a school near the power <br />lines, we would have to locate the building at the south end of the property and <br />use the land from the other developer. The Thompson property would require <br />buses and other traffic to drive through residential areas to get to the school. <br />Assuming roads could be built soon a school could be opened in the Fall 2006, <br />which fits the district's planning <br />