Preserving a Piece of History

Old Bemidji High School

Sometimes preserving history is like trying to find a special place for Grandma's collection of salt and pepper shakers, everybody adores it, but nobody wants to put it on the mantle.  Well, this family keepsake is a lot bigger than one of Grandma's collections. This one is in many pieces, stands about 16 or more feet high and weighs more than a ton of--well, let's just say it's heavy. It's a giant-sized keepsake.

"Old BHS Remembered" is a group of Bemidji High School alumni who are looking for a home for the salvaged artifact: the front door archway of their alma mater, Bemidji High School. The building was razed several years ago, but prior to its demise, quick-thinking and industrious graduates hired a salvage specialist to carefully remove and number the pieces in hopes that they would be reassembled into a grand structure that would forever preserve the memories of old BHS.

The dedicated volunteers have been meeting over the last couple years to come up with ideas for locations, builders and fundraisers to put the puzzle back together. They had a table at the all school reunion and sold pictures and t-shirts to support the cause. Several ideas for reuse have been considered and tossed aside. Installing it in the event center was a favorite of the committee. Other ideas still seem to have merit, like making it a feature in a public park. So far, no solution has caught on. That's why they need your help.

You are invited to a community meeting at city hall on Monday, October 19, 4:30-6:00pm to give your input for a solution. Thanks to a local architect, a drawing with one idea for reuse in a park will be on display to spur your creative juices. Come for the community meeting and stay for the city council forums that will follow beginning at 6:00pm that night.

Non-Profit Directors Quiz the Candidates

Village of Hope

"How would you describe the impact nonprofits have on the city of Bemidji and the surrounding area? Do you have a sense of how may people our homeless shelter and our food shelf serve in a year?"

There were eleven non-profit directors present when candidates for city government met with them for a discussion last Friday. the event was organized by Community Resource Connections (Bemidji Council of Nonprofits). Unfortunately, because of the early morning time, only three of the invited eight were able to attend: candidate for Mayor, Ron Johnson, At-Large candidate, Jim Thompson, and yours truly.  (I'm running for Ward 4.) That was too bad because the discussion was interesting and frank and enlightening. For the three of us, the small number made for some good discussion.

"Do you have any thoughts about how we might improve our city transportation system? My clients have to wait an hour or more for a ride. There is not adequate transportation to accommodate the demands of employment."

We heard a lot of discontent about our transit system. Concerns were shared (via several stories) about unreliability, lateness and the perceived general inefficiency of the dial a ride system. There was a lot of support for a fixed route system.

"It would seem that some of the city council's processes for conversation and decision-making have been inefficient at best and in some cases, damaging to individuals and to the team that is meant to work together to deal with complex issues. Do you have any ideas on what can be done to improve the methods and systems for communication and problem-solving?"

Hmmm. I've observed the same thing myself. Yes I do have some ideas and I'll share them in a separate post.

"What are your thoughts about the changes happening at JEDC concerning Larry Young's retirement: Is there any possibility that a reconfiguration could include nonprofits as part of the area's economic development drivers?"

This question generated a lot of discussion about the impact of nonprofits in our community. They described their organizations as businesses that attract outside money, support substantial employee payrolls and provide local purchasing power. Should they be considered basic economic activities? Much of their budgets are generated by grants and funding from outside our community. This question will be easier to answer when the "asset mapping" project currently underway is finished. Agencies are completing a survey that will help quantify the impact or our nonprofit sector.

Other topics covered  included the potential for collaboration with the city (they want it), streamlining the housing development process (the JPB is unpredictable), questions about the event center (where do they fit in?) and regular opportunities to visit with local government (city and county).

It was clear to the three of us that these directors have a lot to say. And we have a lot to learn. (By the way, the shelter serves about 500 per year and the food shelf served 18,525 people last year.)

More Information, If You Can Stand It

 Sooner or later we will all be tired of hearing and reading about the candidates. Before that happens, take time to read the local candidates' responses to questions posed by the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce.  They are posted on the Chamber's website.  For Bemidji residents, they give some insight into what to expect from council candidates if elected, including me.

Take a look at the city council candidate responses to question number six: "List your top three issues you plan to focus on if elected."   I found it difficult to narrow my choices to three (some candidates couldn't).  Here are mine:

1. Growth management and long range planning (I count that as one. Is it two?)
2. Economic development
3. Improve citizen access to the council and city information

What surprised me is that every council candidate listed development, the development process or annexation as top issues.  Interesting, because there is no staff left for that. Since 2008, the council has eliminated the planning department, community development, and ended a contract with the local economic development organization. 

The candidates have given their top three (or more) priorities. Now I am anxious to hear the community's top priorities. Got a priority for city government to work on?  Besides the budget, what else should our community be working on?















   

Hey, I Just Voted for You!

When I ran into a friend downtown today, I was about to ask if I could put a campaign sign in his yard, but when he saw me, he blurted out, "Hey, I just voted for you!"

He is going to Arizona for the winter and voted absentee today. With thirty-three days left before the election on November 2nd, I am spending a lot of time door knocking, putting up signs and meeting voters.

In addition to asking residents if they are registered and know where to vote, I usually ask if they have any issues or concerns about city government. Here is a sampling of the comments and questions that I heard the last couple days:

"What do you know about the BREC?  I applied for a job at their job fair and I was really hoping to get hired.  I moved here from Duluth where I worked at the DECC doing event set-up and tear-down."
Answer (according to Bob LeBarron): follow-up calls to applicants are being made  this week.

"Why do I have to pay a stormwater management fee? We don't have storm sewers in my neighborhood."
Answer: stormwater fees support the system that keeps our waters--rivers, wetlands, lakes, etc. clean.  They are like paying for schools, they benefit everyone. 

"There is a lot of trash (especially broken bottles) along the new (East/West) trail from downtown to First Street. Why doesn't the city have an "adopt a trail" program like the highways?"
Answer: there is a program called Park Partners where groups can adopt a park and do cleanup or flower and landscaping upkeep. We need to expand and advertise that program for both parks and trails.

What questions will you ask the candidate that knocks on your door? Nobody knocking at your door? You'll have an opportunity to ask questions at the forums that are scheduled next month at city hall. You can watch in person or on cable channel 2.

Candidates for city races will be answering questions at forums on October 19 and October 27.   Click here for a schedule of all forums at city hall or call the city clerk at 218-759-3570 for more information. 

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 9-24-10

Two city bridges--one existing and one hoped for--are getting attention according to this week's city newsletter. The city engineer reports that City staff, representatives from the DNR and MnDOT, and the design consultant met on September 15 to review the status of the Paul Bunyan Trail bridge plans. The bridge has been included in Bemidji's state and federal bonding wish lists for several years. So far, no state or federal funding has been appropriated.  The city engineer hopes to have the final plans complete in about a month, so if funding does become available we will be ready to send the project out for bids.

The second bridge mentioned in the newsletter is the Old Midway Drive historic bridge, which is slated to be renovated. The bridge, which is on the national register of historic places, is described on the Beltrami County Historical Society site as: "Nymore Bridge: Large barrel-vault, reinforced concrete bridge built in 1917 using patented reinforcing system." The bridge is no longer used for vehicles, but connects the bike and pedestrian East/West Trail. According to this website, the Nymore Bridge was built as the first highway bridge across the thin isthmus of land between Lake Irving and Lake Bemidji and is 168 feet long.

From Highways, Byways and Bridge Photography

Old Midway Drive Bridge deterioration.

Old Midway Drive Bridge looking north.

Total cost for the renovation is estimated to be $355,000 and the city received $130,000 of federal stimulus money from the Minnesota Dept. of Transportation for the renovation. The historical consulting firm of Mead and Hunt is working with Widseth Smith and Nolting to complete the bridge renovation design, which has been funded by the park and trails sales tax. The project is slated to be completed in 2011, but at this time no additional funding has been found for the $225,000 local match. The Park and Trails Commission has not approved using sales tax money for the renovation match.

Our community does not have a very good track record of saving historic structures (think Bemidji High School). Will we find a way to renovate and preserve the first highway bridge between Lake Irving and Lake Bemidji? 

Bemidji Arts Commission. Help or Hinder?

Bemidji's art community is alive and well. Just take a walk around downtown and view all of the impressive artwork on the Sculpture Walk. And the not-so-impressive artwork. Does the city need help selecting and placing art in public spaces?

Some citizens are proposing a new Arts Commission to help the city avoid the problem that arose when public art was removed from the sculpture walk.  It was returned following an emotional and sincere outcry by the community.   A commission not a new idea. The idea has been floating around for some time and there have even been proposals pitched to the city in the past.

One well-respected local art advocate believes we are long past needing a group to help the city. Sandy K. wrote about it in a letter to the editor earlier this month. Here's an excerpt:

An arts commission can help draft and facilitate a comprehensive public art policy, advise the city council and manager on arts related issues, and provide a forum for citizen comment, etc. Such commissions are usually made up of artists, designers, architects and arts advocates who submit applications, are appointed by the Mayor and voted on by the Council.

Most public art policies include criteria and procedures for: commissioning temporary or permanent art or memorials; identifying appropriate locations for art on city property; removal or relocation of existing works of art, determining maintenance and safety requirements for public art; accepting gifts of art, and public art planning.

Sandy's proposal seems reasonable.  Will the Mayor and council take the initiative and make it happen? Sandy concludes:

I believe our community, its artists, the Council and staff could all benefit from the formation of an arts commission and the development of a thoughtful public art policy. Our artists and the public deserve no less.

Other cities have them: Edina Art Center Board. Hutchinson Public Arts Commission. Coon Rapids Arts Commission.  What do you think of the Arts Commission idea? Here's some public art to ponder as you consider the idea.

Does camouflage count as art? 

Joshua Callaghan's "Almost Invisible Boxes" - in Culver City, California are utility boxes painted to disappear into the scenery. Another--less controversial--public art project for Bemidji?

Yarn Bombing?

Image of yarn bombed tree in Ohio, courtesy of fibesquad blog at wordpres.

Yet another form of public art is yarn bombing or graffiti knitting. Think of it as a sweater for your tree, or a hat for your rock, or a bikini for your beaver statue. The Star Tribune had a story last month about yarn bombing in Minneapolis. See more pictures on Flickr here. Bemidji seems like a perfect place for yarn bombing. After all, we are the home of Bemidji Woolen Mills and we do need sweaters much of the year.

But back to the question at hand:  We love our art in Bemidji. Would we love a City Arts Commission?

Funny How Time Slips Away

Summer's slipping away and I haven't blogged much at all.  Maybe a couple of times. Well, summer is almost gone--it's September next week (aack!) and it's time to get back in the habit of blogging on a regular basis.

I like blogging because it gives me a way of sharing my opinion (everybody's got one), highlighting the good things happening in the city (I see lots of great things), or venting on bad things that are happening in the city (no shortage there either, unfortunately). I know, facebook gives you that outlet too and I admit, FB is part of the reason I haven't blogged. FB is quick and short and mindless. It kind of sucks you in and -poof- the whole night is gone. Blogging takes more thought and maybe even a bit of work--research, developing your narrative, writing complete sentences. You know, thinking.

Another reason to start posting again is because I am running for city council. I hope that my blog posts will help the people of Ward 4 get to know me and my ideas on city issues.

Getting ready for door knocking. My candidate pin.

But my ultimate reason for blogging is to get more local government information out to city residents, try to help make sense of it and encourage civic participation.

For example, did you know that there is a city newsletter posted on the city's webpage every week? Here's the link to archived newsletters.
Did you know that there are city volunteer openings on two commissions? City Charter Commission and Joint Planning Commission (JPC). These volunteer positions have been open for quite a while.

You'd think that citizens would be anxious for opportunities to have a voice in the city's affairs, but the city has had a difficult time keeping their six spots filled on the JPC, even though it's a paid volunteer position ($50 per meeting). Personally, I think the JPC is too large (12 members, 6 township and 6 city reps.). I think that reducing the membership to 8 would encourage better attendance (there is rarely full attendance) and tighten up meetings.  Having 12 members just seems to allow members the ability to be free-riders. I imagine members thinking:

"If the other 11 members prepare, I really don't have to. I don't have to read the whole packet, I can skim  it. Who would notice if I'm not  prepared for the meetings? Everybody can't talk, there are 12 of us, for crying out loud!"

Don't get me wrong. I believe the JPC members take their roles seriously and work hard, but  I watched the JPC tonight. There were only nine in attendance. I think it needs to be smaller.

It's good to be back writing a blog. I hope you'll return again. In the mean time, "gee ain't it funny, how time slips away" (courtesy of Willie Nelson).