Thursday, April 25, 2013

Volume 97; Number 43

www.bladepublishing.net staff@bladepublishing.net

A community newspaper serving Browerville, MN and surrounding areas. USPS 067-560

75

Todd board approves architects Annex elevator change

design had to be changed yet again to accommodate a further alteration in the location of the buildings new elevator. Howe, architect with Studio E, along with construction managers Earl and Travis Fuechtmann from Contegrity, Inc., of Little Falls, told commissioners that the three had talked extensively with potential contractors for the dirt work and concrete work needed to install the new elevator. The contractors said they believed that the elevator had to be moved even further east of the location where it was currently planned to be sited. Their concerns stemmed from the types and conditions of the soil in the area where the building is located, and the engineering of the roof and joists in the revised design. Earl Fuechtmann told commissioners the additional location change will probably cost $40,000. This money would be taken from the contingency fund part of the project budget. Commissioners agreed that Contegrity should go ahead with the rebidding for the dirt work and concrete work. Bids for this

Winter of 2013 continues to set records

Solid Waste Director Mike Hanan appeared before the board with county employee Gary Schnell to announce Schnells retirement. The board thanked Schnell for his 11 years of service, and presented him with a plaque of appreciation. By Rin Porter At the April 16 Todd County Board of Commissioners meeting, Architect Stephanie Howe explained why the Todd County Annex building remodeling

Aksamit Transportation, Browerville, shared this photo of bus 6 after it entered a ditch last Thursday afternoon. School had been released early that day, and cancelled on Friday due to weather conditions. Mike Aksamit said that there were no students on the bus. In just five days of school nine busses got stuck due to weather conditions, pushing the number for the season up to 18. The previous record was six. work received last fall were considered too high to be accepted, and all bids were rejected by commissioners, with the understanding that the two work categories would be rebid when the difficulties with the project were worked out with potential contractors. The countys building committee recommended proceeding with the elevator redesign and the rebid process, Continued on page 16

New lock systems installed at Browerville Public School

that school staff is aware of who is coming and going from the building at any given time. Sutlief explained that teachers and staff members will all be given entry cards to swipe to gain entry to the building during lock times, with the system tracking who is coming into the school, and what hours of the day. The lock systems work wirelessly, and cameras will be added to the high school and elementary entrances to the school, allowing administrators to properly identify visitors before granting access to the building. During sporting events, concerts, etc, the main door locks can be disabled, allowing access to the building by members of the public. The entire system can be programmed to activate and deactivate on a prearranged schedule. Sutlief said they realize the new system will take a little while to get used to, but wants the public to realize that they had the best interest of the safety of their students and staff in mind when considering installing the system. In the future electronic locks may be added to interior doors as well, allowing the staff to essentially lock down areas of the building if the need ever arises.

3M makes generous donation to Browerville Public School

Visitors to the Browerville Public School will notice that entry doors that have always been open from the outside no longer are. Installed last week, the new Key Card Entry System was installed as an additional security measure to ensure the continued safety of the students and staff within the building. Principal Patrick Sutlief said that the new lock systems have been in the works for the past couple of years, but the hardest part of installing them was finding a company that could accommodate the numerous styles of doors found on the building. The addition of the new lock systems is not because there has been any incidents at the Browerville School, but a preventative measure to ensure

3M corporation recently donated a large amount of office supplies to the Browerville Public School. Browerville was only one of several school in Minnesota to receive such a donation. Accepting the donation on the schools behalf are the class officers from grades 7-12.

WEEKLY WEATHER REPORT

Tue. Apr. 23 Partly Cloudy 38/24 Wed. Apr. 24 40% Rain/Snow 41/27 Thur. Apr. 25 Partly Cloudy 44/37 Fri. Apr. 26
Sunny

Sat. Apr. 27
Sunny

Sun. Apr. 28 Partly Cloudy 71/46

63/40

67/48