Springtime and the folks are restless

The spring of our discontent in Morris? A time where people have to use their precious time to go door-to-door to get sigs on a petition of protest? My, a chorus of voices has certainly been raised. It's raised against this "NextGen" group which certainly had its heart in the right place. 

I did not sign the petition. Nor would I stick my neck out in the other direction. I do feel that constructive proposals for park systems always run into objections for one reason or another. NextGen obviously felt a need existed for what they were laying out. Do you disagree on that? There really is no need? East Side Park as it is, then, is an optimal asset for this community? 

Have you noticed the years just roll by with the "Killoran stage" just "sitting there?" It was nigh impossible to make an argument for that place even when the old Prairie Pioneer Days was in existence. And how in heck does an event like that essentially disappear? I assure you that in its prime, it was thoroughly thriving and joyous. Remember the "Baby Olympics" of the Morris Women of Today? Jack Fuchs giving carriage rides? "Hot Shot" basketball? 

Things change or things disappear. I can't really explain it. 

So now we have NextGen sensing a void and trying to be dynamic. And a petition drive rises up to oppose it. Don't worry, I got word last night (Tuesday) that NextGen has called off its whole project. Will the whole idea just lie dormant now? Will East Side Park just continue being this peaceful open space with a huge structure - the Killoran thing - that just sits there? Oh, that doesn't mean that it doesn't cost anything to maintain. I know The City of Morris spends $ on it. And the thing was "donated?" 

Decades have rolled by. 

As I get older I can increasingly share recollections of when things were different in many ways. I am 70. The Morris High School class of 1973 had its 50-year reunion two years ago. You'll see more of us with walkers pretty soon. "Boomers" using walkers? Well of course. But we no longer have the Morris Senior Citizens Center as an asset. 

My, the senior center was born with a real sense of satisfaction. I believe Senator Dave Durenberger had something to do with all these "senior centers." That's what the late Glen Helberg told me. I miss Glen. He carried out groceries at Coborn's, remember? And why did Coborn's have to disappear? Its disappearance left Willie's in basically a monopoly position. We can be thankful that Donald Trump got elected because he said his biggest priority from Day 1 would be to lower grocery prices. 

But this morning there's a headline about how DJT's priority is to get "reparations" for the pardoned Jan. 6 rioters. 

 

That's the word

Most people in Morris concluded that Coborn's left here because it couldn't get the liquor license it was seeking. And now the municipal liquor store is going to be relocating? Out to the "highway strip" or whatever you want to call it? Leaving the old "downtown" to erode more? The liquor store's current location is too "dead?" Is that it? 

So the city feels it can get a lot more people to acquire liquor - what an asset in life - if the store's location is in the "trendy" place on edge of town with newer buildings. Sorry, I do not purchase liquor. 

So, the park idea is disposed. East Side Park will continue being a sleepy place. But now the City of Morris has a new matter on its plate. Hold on, it's the library! And my, what a kerfuffle we have. 

Our Morris library

It is so easy to be hit over the head with "one side" in this matter. Makes me wonder why on earth the city manager and council would even want to consider, in the slightest, any lapses or mistakes made by the library director who comes off as a candidate for sainthood. 

Well, I certainly like Anne Barber. But I don't have all the details of what goes on behind the scenes. My first sense, to be honest, is that Ms. Barber has engendered so much good will because she is an individual that stands for serving the public and young families. I said to Kevin Wohlers in an email the other day that "criticizing the library is like criticizing mom and apple pie." 

Could we just wait a little and learn more about just what allegations are being levied? I have to believe the city manager has the support of at least two council people for at least looking into this. But widespread rage has erupted. It's along the lines of the petition vs. the NextGen thing. So many people so riled up. 

In the library's case I can't help but think that personalities get overly involved, and heavens to Betsy I have seen this before in Morris. Social networks which I sometimes call "good old boys." And we need people in official positions sometimes who are not cowed by this. 

I remember the burning issue/controversy involving the Morris school in the late 1980s. The controversy was so unnecessary of course. Good old boys and social ties got involved. Businesses got hurt. 

Now, between the park kerfuffle and the library matter, we have to be careful there are no scars left over. Well, I'll warn y'all. But the impulses of younger people can disregard what I have to say. 

Really truly, we have to look at libraries in a different light, so deep into the transformative digital age. And I have to bite my cheeks when hearing the cliche-ish line "the need for libraries has never been greater." Just like the Star-Tribune editorial that once began "the need for higher education has never been greater." Sheesh, the need for "higher education" has never been LESS. 

I'd like to say "I rest my case" but Jim Morrison would laugh at me. 

There are always do-gooders around who are ready with the cliches. These are left-of-center people politically. And the left at this moment is being crushed, obliterated. There is one primary question we ought to ask Michelle Fischbach now: "Is there anything that Donald Trump could do or say that you would disagree with?" 

 

Is UMM doomed?

And what about UMM?

We vote Republican even though it could mean the literal end of the University of Minnesota-Morris. I mean, with the total clamp-down on DEI which, if the U does not acquiesce, could have catastrophic consequences like it has for Columbia Unviversity. You think the top U administrators want to risk that for a second? 

I recently shared some ideas on current local topics with Kevin Wohlers. I'm a long-time Wohlers family friend. Remember Mel? I shall quote parts of my email in the remainder of this post.

 

Has the city considered land out along Prairie Lane as possibility for new park? This is on my daily walking route so I'm quite aware of everything going on out there. This was how I developed strong views on the softball complex. So I'm talking the road that goes past the softball complex and water treatment plant, and gee I believe I had some opinions on water treatment plant also. 

 

The land out along Prairie Lane is already under some management like for mowing but it's still basically vacant. Far enough from town that a park and concert stage could work there and not ruffle feathers. It's amazing how the Killoran stage has sat there for years and years with negligible use. And I'm sure it costs the city money to manage as with the public washrooms (with video surveillance). I think permanent washrooms can become a major issue for lots of entities. Were "porta-potties" really so terrible in the old days? Not pleasant to use but how often do we need them? 

Look at Wells Park. Look how much space is devoted to "ball diamonds" at Wells. I have read that many parks in big cities have eliminated their ball diamonds because these sports are no longer as popular for kids. Kids get almost no exercise in little league baseball. The Wells Park diamonds were perfect for MACA softball.

Did the city get any permanent resentment by saying "no" on the final request for $ for the softball complex? I still think the lack of fan seating there is terrible. As for the bleachers right behind home plate at Holmberg field, you have to sit right in the middle to get a view of the whole playing field. Everyone really has to bring their own chairs and many sit out by the outfield fence. Is that really by preference?

OK, the library. It's easy to get an earful of "one side" in this. There are many reasons to feel affection for Anne Barber. I'm not presuming here in this email that either side is correct, but it's reasonable for a person in Anne's position to get a fair review that is not automatically fawning. You listen to certain people and you think that the city manager is some sort of wicked witch of the west! I'm not exaggerating.

So, what are my feelings? For a long time now, whenever I think of the library I think of a place that seems anachronistic. A big building full of books and "stuff" that has to be costly to maintain, but this in the age of the Internet, which. . . Well I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I get all the info, entertainment and communication I need for my whole life in the laptop I'm typing on right now! I'm sure the library has rows of books about WWII. But I can use the search bar on YouTube to research any fine detail of WWII, in fact get multiple sources.

This is dicey because criticizing the library is like criticizing mom and apple pie. A place that has a weekly "children's story hour." Sheesh.

 

I have to believe that at least two council people are sympathetic with what the city manager is doing to keep close watch on library expenses. Otherwise she'd be ill-advised to do it. This is another case of where we have to put personalities aside. It's like when {name withheld} finally left the school system. It was past due but then personalities and cliques got involved. 

The city has this major real estate in the middle of town - the library and the former senior center - and we really have to wonder how essential all this is. I close my eyes and imagine the library just disappearing sometime and would we really miss it? Just plain gone. And, how could the need for a "senior center" just totally vanish into thin air?

 

Oh and how is UMM going to be affected by this major crackdown on DEI? UMM "bleeds" DEI, advertises it. Are we going to end up like Columbia University? I'm sure the top U administrators in the Twin Cities are on edge. I'll be interested to observe UMM graduation just to get a sense of how the place is doing. We hear rumors. I never thought day would come when there would be no band for graduation.

 

Well Kevin I'm done writing about March Madness so I thought I'd write this email to you today. Good luck in these challenging times.

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com