Vets

Originally Memorial Day served to honor the U.S. men and women who died while serving in the military service. Now this day also serves to honor our disabled veterans and all who have served in the U.S. military.

To some Memorial Day is all about picnics, barbecues, family gatherings and the Indianapolis 500. To others it's all about visiting cemeteries and memorials or attending a Memorial Day program.

There is nothing wrong with a picnic or family gathering on Memorial day. Just remember the real reason for this holiday.  If you can thank a veteran. Through the course of the day think about the fact that an American soldier could be fighting off insurgents while Americans here are enjoying family picnics and gatherings. Thank you to all the members of the military-now and then.

Do you know someone who has served or is serving??  

Please share a story or a thank you to them on the blog.

Stadium

Lawmakers have unveiled two proposals for funding a new $790 million stadium for the Minnesota Vikings. There is a "Purple Plan" and "White Plan". Minnesota  was once dubbed the Black & Blue Division. With either new stadium plan it’s what I call a "Black & Blue Plan" for Minnesota taxpayers.
With the “Purple Plan” the Vikings contribute $264 million and the “White Plan” $420 million. Then there are typical added taxes, motel and car rental, and a new twist, revenue from a sports-themed scratch off lottery game.

I have said this before and I will say it again. This is a form of welfare for the rich. We help pay and the ownership of the Vikings benefits most.

The state is dealing with extreme budget cuts, school districts are getting delayed payments  and we are going to prioritize building a new stadium. I don't get the logic at all.

Say I am struggling to pay my monthly bills and then buy a new truck and take an exotic trip. This is what the state of Minnesota wants to do. You can't spend that kind of money on a stadium when struggling to pay bills.

The state would have to increase taxes to pay for the stadium. Minnesotans can't afford any new taxes. Put the stadium on hold until the state pays the bills-and that includes our educational system.

School Use - Mantorville, MN

I don't know a great deal about the future use of the former K-M Intermediate School in Mantorville. There is even a chance the deal might not go through because there has to be criteria met before final papers are signed in August.

One of the criteria for purchasers Kent and Carole Keller of Mantorville is that a market study must show a need for potential tenants. Part of that study is to get input from local residents. What do we see as a use for the facility?

I know that if in fact Kent and Carole do become the owners they will find a viable use for the facility that benefits the community. Their motivation is not to make a fast buck.  They would like to see a return on the investment, but I think a big factor is to generate a use that benefits the community.

In the last several years the Kasson-Mantorville area has had to deal with way too many empty buildings. There's another big one in Kasson, also a former school, sitting empty. Empty buildings are anything but a positive economic sign in a community.

If a private party is willing to stick their neck out and try to do something positive with an empty school building, the community should stand behind them. Tax breaks, city assistance as far as zoning and even public input can be a boost for the building's future. Remember this was a school property-not on city tax rolls.

School property has not exactly been a hot commodity in the K-M area the last few years. Maybe something good can come from the school closing in Mantorville. It doesn't look right sitting empty without kids on the playground on a nice spring day!

Article by: Randy Carlsen

Do you have any ideas for tenants and how they could use the building?