BUSINESS CENTRAL ISSUE: July August 2018

The Little Town That Can From an award-winning school district to downtown redevelopment, Sauk Rapids is showing what can be done when a community comes together and builds for the future.

By Mary MacDonell Belisle

No sitting on their laurels. No grass growing underfoot. Instead, Sauk Rapids’ citizenry of 13,631 souls has used its energy and resources to strive, and thrive, along the river.

Bridge Work Certainly, one of the most visible indicators of the city on-the-move is the Sauk Rapids Regional Bridge, spanning the at St. Cloud’s 9th Ave. N and Sauk Rapids’ 2nd Street N. After some heated, but ultimately, healthy give-and-take between stakeholders, a new bridge was completed in September of 2007, replacing the 1942 era Sauk Rapids Bridge. Benefits of the new bridge is its four traffic lanes and its landing beyond the railroad tracks, eliminating traffic backups from passing trains.

The project cost a total of $55–$56.63 million. To reduce adverse effects of construction, the City’s downtown mitigation program (DIM) provided money to relocate downtown businesses like Manea’s Meat Co. Sales tax money provided ornamental lighting, landscaping, crosswalks and sidewalks, tree planting, and more, especially along Benton Drive and Second Ave. N.

Downtown Proud Business retention, downtown beautification, and vibrancy remain important a decade after the bridge’s completion. “Sauk Rapids has always been proud of having a functioning downtown, but not always happy with how it looked,” said Todd Schultz, Sauk Rapids community development director. “We’ve done some listening and have focused on doing whatever we can to look better and be more inviting to folks.”

Signs of investment are apparent. In 2017, the vacant Rapids Locker Plant on Benton Drive was demolished to make way for development. In 2016, a 9,600-square foot expansion by Manea’s Meats was approved, bringing jobs and new business downtown. That same year Torberg Builders started construction on the Mississippi River Lofts on the former American Legion property. This upscale apartment complex of 57 units, with underground parking, fitness center, rooftop terrace, and river views opened in March 2018.

“The downtown area also has some really good technology – fast and from good providers, high bandwidth and less costly than industrial parks,” according to Brenda Eisenschenk, owner of InteleCONNECT, Inc., an independent broker/analyst of phone, internet, cable TV, audio, and wireless services. InteleCONNECT recently relocated to Sauk Rapids. “We found the building, but needed to build out. The permits were approved. The City was wonderful to work with.”

Over the River, on Up the Hill In addition to being a downtown focal point, the Sauk Rapids bridge is the anchor of the city’s “Up the Hill” project, a partnership with Benton County that connects Second Street N (County Road 3) to Highway 10. The $12 million effort was designed to improve mobility, safety, and access to the industrial park.

“We’re always looking for improvements and the right development to complement downtown,” said City Administrator Ross Olson, explaining that the next commercial area will be located up the hill. The new roadway is a first step, constructed after the city acquired 19 private homes, including one that was moved four blocks to a new location because the owner wanted to keep her house.

Parks “Now that the city has redone everything, the updated and beautiful parks are very nice and walking paths around the bridge are very attractive,” said Tammy Christopherson, owner of Relax & Revive Massage.

Moving forward, the city expects to more fully use its parks. Plans include a band shell for Southside Park, a splash pad for Lions Park, and a Municipal Park expansion to the Highway 15 bridge. “We want the community out there, experiencing the parks,” said Olson, pointing out that for 18 years the City Council, HRA, and the Planning Commission have worked with residents to acquire riverfront property so all can enjoy the river. “They owners have told us, ‘If you wait for us, we’ll sell it to you.’ We’re doing it, incrementally.”

Public Safety Law enforcement, emergency services, and a volunteer fire department cooperate to make Sauk Rapids safe for its businesses and residents. The new fire station was strategically built downtown, since research showed that older buildings, such as those in a historic downtown, were more of a hazard than new ones.

Madelyn Adamski, daughter of firefighter Jason Adamski, led a fundraising effort two years ago that netted $75,000 for an airboat. The “Madelyn Rae” was delivered in March and will handle transport and rescue efforts in grasslands, marshes, swamps, and open water. In addition, the Fire Department bought 30 particulate hoods, to be worn under helmets for skin cancer prevention.

The Police Department also gained resources for crime prevention. Two police officers were hired last year and another is slated for 2018. New thermal imagers, body armor, and ballistic shields will help improve safety for the public and police officers.

“We’ve had a couple of break-ins, and the police force is fantastic,” Bob Gruber, Jr., Scenic Sign Company, said. Communication and response times have been swift, and the department has stepped up patrols, he added.

“The police drive by often, and that’s important to us,” agreed InteleCONNECT’s Eisenschenk.

Roadways “When we opened in 2011, South Benton Drive was ripped open in front of our location, but now it’s wonderful – new and better traffic,” said Christopherson of Relax and Revive Massage. The improved access to Highway 10 helps draw clients from Foley and Little Falls.

Eisenschenk’s location is convenient, too, with easier access to her customers in downtown St. Cloud and Waite Park. She also appreciates the promptness of snow plowing during the winter.

“The central location of Sauk Rapids is really good for us,” said Gruber. “As a regional business, we’re one hour to , Alexandria, Brainerd, and Willmar.”

School Initiatives Recently, the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District residents voted down a levy referendum. On the ballot was a new elementary school, the rebuild of Pleasantview Elementary, and expansions for Rice Elementary and Hillside Schools.

“There’s disappointment, of course, that it’s not going forward, but on the other hand, we know it’s also a true form of grass-roots government,” said Interim Superintendent Bruce Watkins, as reported on WJON radio May 9. “We just have to keep working to find that collaborative measure people can support.”

Despite the set-back on the building referendum, the school continues to be recognized for their outstanding academic record: • In April, 21 Sauk Rapids-Rice High School DECA students headed to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend the International DECA competition. Two of the students received third place in their categories, and six landed in the top ten. • The school’s Knowledge Bowl team had the highest overall score at regional competition, landing them a spot in the state tournament. • The Sauk Rapids-Rice High School is an Apple Distinguished School for 2017-2019 for their innovative implementation of one-to-one technology and instruction. • Rice Elementary School is working toward becoming an International Baccalaureate school. If approved, it will be the first elementary school outside of the Twin Cities to earn the distinction. The school hopes to receive their authorization in October.

The Sauk Rapids-Rice High School Concert Choir sang the world premiere performance of “Flight,” a new composition by composer Isaac Lovdahl. This opportunity was the result of a grant from the Sauk Rapids-Rice Education Foundation. The composer was commissioned to write a song specifically for the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School Concert Choir. (You can see the video at BusinessCentralMagazine.com)

In addition, the Sauk Rapids-Rice Culinary Team participated in the “Taste of the NFL” as part of Super Bowl weekend. The students worked with chefs from each of the 32 NFL cities.

“I am super pleased with the schools,” said Gruber. “I’ve had nothing but positive experiences with the Sauk Rapids schools.”

Mary MacDonell Belisle is a freelance copy and content writer with mary macdonell belisle - wordingforyou. She specializes in business articles and profiles, web content, and book editing.

For the resources used in this article visit BusinessCentralMagazine.com

SIDEBAR

Award Winner From construction of the Sauk Rapids Bridge to the new fire hall, Sauk Rapids is winning awards for the quality and creativity of their community development projects. • Economic Development Association of Minnesota awarded the Sauk Rapids Bridge the “Business Retention Project of the Year” (2007) • The bridge received the “Best Planning Project,” by the Minnesota Chapter of the American Planning Association (2007) • The aesthetically appealing fire station was awarded “Notable Volunteer Fire Station” by Fire Chief Magazine (2007). • Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers named the bridge one of the “Seven Wonders of Engineering” (2008). • A recent road improvement project connecting County Road 3 to Highway 10 received the “Project of the Year” by the Minnesota County Engineers Association (2017).

PULLOUT Healthy Finances During the 2018 “State of the City” address, Mayor Kurt Hunstiger said Sauk Rapids is in good financial shape, under budget by $197,000 for 2017. The city has also reduced its debt by half over the past 10 years, according to Community Development Director Todd Schultz. (For more on the State of the City address, see Regional Roundup on page ??)