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Chisago Lakes District 2144 taxpayers will be voting February 10 on authorizing financing in order to pay for a list of projects the district hopes to complete over the next two to three years.

The bonding is prioritized in two ballot questions and the number one question – for $48 million – must be approved in order for the second bond of $7.5 million to proceed.  The smaller borrowing package can not be pursued even if it gets the needed yes votes, without the first question passing.  

Absentee voting opened soon after Christmas and there will be three polling places open February 10, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to cast your ballot in person.  Polling places are at Chisago Lake Township Hall, the Lindstrom Community Center and Taylors Falls School.  Vote at the precinct close to where you live.  

In person early voting can be done at the government center, at the auditor’s office, 313 Main Street in Center City.

Absentee is proving to be a popular option for this referendum.  According to Chisago County Auditor-Treasurer Bridgitte Konrad, 819 ballots have been issued (as of last week) and 422 have been returned to be counted.

Chisago Lakes Superintendent Brian Dietz was joined by several other district staffers for a public information session January 28 at the Wildcat Community Center next to the high school.   The attendees rotated through four stations viewing drawings of what’s proposed at four school sites, and representatives could answer specific questions about proposals.

The Chisago Lakes Middle School needs an estimated $19 million  of the $48 million first ballot question to go into physical remodel and reconstruction work. The ballot question revenues go towards  correcting the out-dated  open floor plan on the third floor.  This  is “priority one’ according to Principal Todd Warzecha.  The floor will be closed in, creating several stand alone classrooms along with ADA projects for the upstairs bathroom.  

The district proposes relocating the main middle school office and entry, to the west side near the media center,  in addition to adding mechanicals and other needed improvements.  The main entry lacks security and functionality.  Middle School enrollment is at 780 now and the capacity is and will be sufficient for the foreseeable future.

The Taylors Falls and Primary Elementary buildings are getting toilet facilities/plumbing addressed, ADA standards updates, a poor drainage situation impacting a playground corrected, multi-purpose room enhancements and similar interior work.  Both elementary schools did have extensive work done under the last bond referendum approved in 2017.  

The third elementary facility in ISD 2144, Lakeside School in Chisago City, was built as part of the 2017 financing package.

The second ballot question, if it proceeds,  raises about $7.5 million.  

In the elementary buildings this is being directed toward furnishings, video boards and classroom electronics and related needs.

The second question also  is earmarked towards athletic needs, according to Supt. Dietz.  He said the failure of the last bond vote seemed to be tied to voters wanting to separate what they see as non-academic expenditures.  Supt. Dietz explained that families now look for extra-curricular options when choosing a “destination’ district and the comprehensive district  package needs to be kept in mind.

The work related to sports  includes replacing or introducing lighting at softball and baseball fields, improving access (walking path)  to the west side of the athletic complex at the high school  and work on the community pool.  The field complex near the ice arena experiences standing water problems and this too will be evaluated and addressed.

Community Education Director Dan McGonigle stressed that local organizations using school facilities for youth recreation have a productive working relationship with Chisago Lakes Schools, however the district is unique in that it owns and is responsible for a number of sites that generally are municipal or county assets in other parts of the state.

McGonigle also explained in response to a question from the audience; that the Wildcat Community Center is pretty much sustaining itself and if there is any “excess” revenue generated it goes back into community education, as required by state law.  Life-long learning programming costs and before and after-school childcare services get financial bolstering keeping fees down.

There are energy savings estimated for some of the retro-fit systems and new windows at the high school, planned in the bond projects.  

Consulting firm Nexus Solutions representative Ellie Gilliam said over the 10 year life of HVAC for example,  increased efficiency is estimated to save $450,000 or $45,000 annually.  She also explained that the sought-after financing is based on the company’s best actual numbers and recent awarded contracts —and if bids come in excessively, the consultants will work to revise items to stay in-budget.

Dietz noted for the audience these needs are not going to get corrected by themselves and costs will increase and not go down.

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