Steering us through stormy waters

Cancelled contracts not expected to result in lawsuits against Pelican Rapids School District
By Susan M.A. Larson
Fergus Falls Daily Journal

No lawsuits are forthcoming or expected in the Pelican Rapids School Board’s case of the canceled contracts.

After cancelling contracts with RMA Architecture and Kraus-Anderson Construction in July, speculations of lawsuits being leveled at the board by the two entities circulated. At least one of the firms, Kraus-Anderson, is not planning such action. RMA could not be reached for comment. Both firms submitted bills at Monday’s school board meeting for services rendered. The board tabled action to take time to negotiate the figures.Contracts were signed with Kraus-Anderson and RMA Architecture before the failed May 2004 referendum to build a new high school, according to former School Board Member Don Beck (Beck submitted his resignation Monday to accept an athletic director position with the school district). “They took us through the referendum process,” Beck said.

The board voted to cancel the contracts in July to look in another direction. “The school district decided to go a different route,” said John Campobasso, senior vice president of business development of Kraus-Anderson. “We provided services to the Pelican Rapids School District Board of Education for plans for future expansion for its high school. As construction manager, we provide insight on construction plans and costs. We don’t have a problem if they want to go somewhere else. It isn’t an uncommon thing. It certainly isn’t a lawsuit issue. There should be no penalties, just payment for services provided to that point.”The school board has no problem with paying the bill. It just wants to negotiate it down.RMA submitted a bill for $35,990, and Kraus-Anderson, $24,150, for a total $60,140. There were no representatives from RMA or Kraus-Anderson present at the meeting. There also were no members of the public in attendance.“I’d like more information on this,” said Steve Strand, board chair. “I’d like it in writing from (RMA and Kraus-Anderson’s) lawyers, what information was used to render this opinion.” “When they see the bills submitted to us, I don’t think it will go over well from the public’s standpoint,” said Board Member Don Perrin.“I’d like to pursue it further and negotiate at least reducing it further,’ said Board Member Bob Nielsen. “I think it’s the responsible thing for us to do." “I’m willing to work on this,” said Strand. “I see no urgency to proceed.” After the July board meeting, members of Kraus-Anderson were unhappy with statements made in a local newspaper by members of the board about Kraus-Anderson, said School Superintendent Kent Baldry. A retraction or clarification is being sought by the company. That, as well as the bill for services rendered, will be negotiated. “I have nothing against RMA or Kraus-Anderson,” said Nielsen. “But if they don’t like what was said, it was just stating an opinion. I don’t think we should be slapped around a great deal for our opinions. And I don’t think they’ll be too concerned about making a huge deal out of this.” September 11 is the next scheduled school board meeting. It is not known if these issues will be revisited at that time.

Pelican Rapids Mayor holds record with decade of service
By Matt Bewley
Fergus Falls Daily Journal

Nearing completion of a record fifth term as mayor of Pelican Rapids, Wayne Runningen has borne witness to some of the town’s most exciting changes of the past decade. “I’ve tried to be real involved with community groups, and promoting business growth and economic development,” he said. He served on the Pelican Rapids Planning Commission from 1990 though 1993, including about one year as the chairman. From there, “I was appointed to the city council in July of 1993 to fill out the term of Jim Hotzfield, which ran until 1994,” he said. “I then ran for City Council in 1994 and was elected for a four-year term,” he said. “When Jim McDonald announced his retirement as Mayor, I ran for Mayor in 1996 and won election as Mayor of Pelican Rapids. I only completed two years of my four-year council term.” He has since been reelected four times. Chief among the city’s accomplishments in which he shared or took a leadership role were the restoration of the historic city hall building, the completion of the city’s 20-year Comprehensive Plan and the Pelican Rapids Library expansion project. The 20-year Comprehensive Plan is a guideline for the city’s immediate future. “The intent is for it to be a guide for the city, civic leadership and business all to work together toward a shared goal,” Runningen said. In its two thick binders are projected expectations and solutions to zoning issues, population growth and other matters relevant to Pelican Rapids’ growth. “It points out our strengths and weaknesses and the direction we’d like the city to take,” he said. Another of the major issues considered, and already a success story, is how the town accepted the influx of refugees and immigrants into Pelican Rapids in recent years. “We were all struck by the quick changes, but this community really pulled together,” he said. “Churches adopted families, and everyone pulled together to help make it a positive. And we’ve had no problems, even though outsiders often assume that we do.” As for those next 20 years: “I see Pelican Rapids and the surrounding area growing,” the mayor said.