Big Lake Public Schools Supt. Tim Truebenbach, Assistant Supt. Minda Anderson and School Council members Tonya Reasoner and Derek Nelson were on hand at the Big Lake City Council meeting October 9. Truebenbach presented information before the council concerning the three referendum questions that are on the ballot this November.
Truebenbach opened his presentation by explaining his purpose for being there.
“I’m trying to give information so that people understand what they’re voting on,” he said. “I‘m not going to say vote this way or vote that way.”
He then highlighted the role that Big Lake Schools play in the community and how the school’s core values, known as the Hornet Way, help build the community. Those core values are respect, honesty, kindness, responsibility, and fairness. The hope is that Big Lake students grow up committed to those principles in all aspects of life. To meet that goal, the school must overcome three challenges that will be addressed in this year’s referendum.
The first challenge is that the 10-year technology levy that provides $930,816 annually for learning technology and digital curriculum will expire in 2026. Truebenbach explained that the money from that levy went directly to technology.
“That helped us purchase devices, smartboards, technical education equipment, some additional staff support, learning and grading software, internet service, cybersecurity protections and general infrastructure around the concept of technology,” he said.
Truebenbach says students rely on that continued funding to maintain those things. Question One if passed, will continue to provide that funding. Because the current technology levy will expire and the levy proposed in question one is asking for the same amount, passage of Question One will not increase the current property tax rate.
The second challenge is that locally-approved funding is currently below the state average. The 2015 Operating Levy provides $681 per pupil. The state average is $1,081. Question Two on the ballot, if approved, will close that gap by adding $400 per pupil to current funding. A tax calculator on the website, www.biglakethrivingtogether.org, will tell all how passage of the levy will affect one’s property tax. For a home valued at $400,000, the tax impact would be $15 per month.
The third challenge is a lack of space. There is not enough space for physical education, athletics, and community education and events. This has resulted in some events being moved or cancelled. Practices frequently last until 8 p.m. and youth sports are pushed later into the evening or are cancelled due to competing schedules in limited indoor athletic space.
Question Three asks for $39 million that would build an 80,000 square ft. facility to be used for special education programming, physical education, a walking track, and an enclosed activity space for sports and extracurricular activities. Question Three is contingent upon Question Two passing, but would result in no net tax increase for taxpayers relative to last year.
“We’re surrounded by school districts that already have these spaces,” said Truebenbach. “This is not something that is extravagant.”
Big Lake Fire
Fire Chief Seth Hansen gave his monthly update for the Big Lake Fire Department. The Fire Department received a total of 301 calls for August and September. Of those calls six were for fire, seven for motor vehicle accidents, nine hazardous condition calls and six medical assist calls.
BLFD had a number of trainings over that same period which included sources of water supply, means of moving water, hydrants and distribution systems, confined space entry and rescue boat operations which involved setting a boat on fire.
“It was all contained, nothing to worry about,” said Hansen. “Got some calls through dispatch on that though. The guys enjoyed it. It was a good training.”
Hansen noted firefighter anniversaries – seven years of service: Josh Matich and Lt. Eric Rosa; six years: Cpt. Sam Hanson, Terry Baxter, Noel Krebs, Jesse Hemauer, and Brady Bogne; two years: Eric Boe, Steve Christenson, Ryan Lein, and Trever Roediger.
Big Lake Police
Police Chief John Kaczmarek shared with the council the calls for service numbers for August and September. The BLPD received 1912 total calls over that period. Notable calls were DWI arrests (six), Domestic Assaults (25), Warrant Arrests (three), and Welfare Checks (66). Juvenile Complaints were down. Twenty calls compared to 36 from the last report. There was one call for motor vehicle theft, which Kaczmarek explained was the theft of a trailer.
Kaczmarek recognized Officer William Saliterman for his two year anniversary and thanked Big Lake Spudfest for their donation of $2,000 to the Police Reserve Unit.
