Minneota Voters Reject $24.8M School Bonding Referendum

Issue #198

13 Feb

In this Marshall Area Insider issue…

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🗞️ Minneota Voters Reject $24.8M School Bonding Referendum

🗞️ Broadmoor Valley Owners Face New Lawsuit Over Grant Violations

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Minneota Voters Reject $24.8M School Bonding Referendum

Voters in the Minneota school district have turned down a $24.815 million bonding referendum, according to unofficial results shared by Minneota Public Schools.

A majority opposed both questions on the ballot.

The referendum aimed to secure funding for school building updates and potential expansions. The first question sought $11.725 million for improvements, including a new boiler and roof repairs.

The second, contingent on the first passing, requested an additional $13.09 million for new classrooms and other facility expansions.

Final vote counts showed 428 votes in favor of the first question and 442 against. The second question received 375 votes in support and 494 in opposition.

While the outcome was disappointing for school officials, voter engagement throughout the process was significant. The Minneota School Board is set to meet next week to officially certify the results.

With the referendum’s failure, district leaders will need to determine how to address ongoing facility needs, particularly pressing issues like boiler and roof repairs.

School officials acknowledge that these needs remain and will require alternative solutions moving forward.

Broadmoor Valley Owners Face New Lawsuit Over Grant Violations

The owners of Broadmoor Valley mobile home park in Marshall are facing another lawsuit, this time from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.

The agency filed a civil complaint in Ramsey County District Court on February 6, alleging that Schierholz & Associates violated the terms of a $500,000 grant awarded in 2022.

The lawsuit claims that the planned closure of Broadmoor Valley by the end of 2025 breaches the grant agreement, which required the property to remain an affordable manufactured home community for 25 years.

Additionally, the complaint alleges that Schierholz & Associates raised rents by more than 5% without obtaining prior approval from Minnesota Housing, further violating the agreement’s conditions.

As part of the Manufactured Home Community Redevelopment Program grant, recipients must maintain affordability and limit rent increases unless explicitly authorized by the agency.

The lawsuit states that Schierholz & Associates attempted to withdraw from the grant in 2024 by returning $153,751 of previously disbursed funds.

However, the agency argues that returning the funds does not nullify the contractual obligations.

Minnesota Housing is requesting a court ruling to void the rent increases announced in October 2024, block the closure of Broadmoor Valley before 2047, and appoint a receiver to oversee the park’s financial records.

Schierholz & Associates has 21 days to respond to the lawsuit. As of February 10, no additional court filings had been made.

This lawsuit follows previous legal action against the Broadmoor Valley owners.

In 2021, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit alleging failure to maintain sanitary conditions at the park.

A trial was held in January, where a jury found that the company had not upheld proper maintenance standards at some point after August 2019, though its president, Paul Schierholz, was not found to have knowingly contributed to the violations.

Upcoming Area Events

 🗓️ Have an event to add? Send us the details!

Thursday, February 13th
Friday, February 14th
Saturday, February 15th

  • Tea & Sweets at the Lyon County Museum in Marshall from 2:00 - 4:00 PM

  • It’s Always Summer Somewhere Bingo at Cottonwood Community Center starting at 7:00 PM

    • Nacho Bar or Potato Bar plus Bingo snacks available

  • Lake That Speaks Candlelight Hike at Group Camp 2, Lac qui Parle State Park from 6:30 - 8:30 PM

  • South Western Prairie Outdoors Club Ice Fishing Contest on Wood Lake (4 miles north of the town of Wood Lake) from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

    • $20 / person entry fee

Sunday, February 16th

  • Bingo at Echo, MN Community Center starting at 11:30 AM

Saturday, February 22nd

  • 2025 Mustang Gold Rush Raffle at R/A Facility at SMSU social hour starting at 6:00 PM

    • Tickets are $100/ person which includes entry into the event & into the reverse raffle.

    • Enjoy live and silent auctions, along with casino games and a variety of other fun games.

      • The grand prize of $5,000 is awarded to the last remaining raffle ticket holder.

      • $2,000 is awarded to the second remaining ticket holder.

      • 3rd, 4th and 5th remaining ticket holders will each be awarded $1,000.

      • A $100 prize will be awarded seven other times during the raffle.

      • $500 will be awarded for the 350th ticket drawn.

Sunday, February 23rd

  • Brunch at the Wood Lake Community Center from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

    • free will donations

Wednesday, February 26th

  • 2025 State of the City Address at Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) Upper Conference Center starting at 11:30 AM

    • Tickets are $20 for Chamber Members and $25 for Non-Chamber Members

    • Lunch included

Monday, March 3rd

  • Marshall Area Cancer Support Group Meetings at Living Word Lutheran Church in Marshall at 6:00 PM

    • For patients, survivors, and caregivers looking for support

Wednesday, March 5th (first Wednesday of every month)

  • Dementia Caregiver Support Group from 10:00 - 11:30 AM at Adult Community Center in Marshall

    • Open to everyone, come when you can, no cost or obligation to attend, refreshments available

    • For questions contact Jane Nelson Como (507) 829-1143

Saturday, March 15th

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