City considering a gym at high school After more than a year of considering building a community center, the City Council unanimously directed city staff to move forward with a plan to build a gym at the Columbia Heights High School.
The school district was already planning on building a gym at the high school, and now the city will pay for a second gym at the school to be open to all residents.
In November, the school board approved a plan to add a gym and fitness center to the north side of the high school at a cost of $4.4 million. The preliminary cost for the second gym is $3.5 million, which is expected to come from funds the city had previously reserved for recreation opportunities. The city staff is working to develop an agreement with the school district to lay out all the details of the project.
"I think it's going to bring our community and school together," said Mayor Gary Peterson. "Hopefully our citizens will have a feeling of ownership in the school."
The city will continue conversations about the possibility of a YMCA in Columbia Heights.
BLAINE
Citizen group will focus on public safety A resident group that was recently created will begin work on improving public safety in the community. The Blaine Public Safety Association will be separate from the Blaine Police Department, but will aim to help law enforcement agencies.
Some of the group's goals include purchasing equipment to help officials locate missing children or vulnerable adults and holding fundraisers to create reward funds to help solve crimes. For more information, contact blainepsa@hotmail.com.
BROOKLYN CENTER
Apartment complex, city weigh settlement City officials are working with the owners of the Center Pointe apartment complex to consider a settlement agreement that would resolve criminal charges against the owners, a pending license revocation for the property and a lawsuit the owners filed against the city.