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Yesterday’s News Diane Stangl 95 Years Ago March 12, 1925
Financial View of Community Hall On April 6th the question of the Community Hall of Amery will be decided by the voters. Before casting your vote for or against this proposition I wish to call a few facts to the attention of our citizens. I think you all agree that a building of this kind is greatly needed. Our City Hall, which houses our fi re apparatus, is ready to fall down; our jail is condemned; we have no public comfort stations, which the law requires us to have; no council chamber, not even a place to hold justice court; and most of all, we need an auditorium where our school children can have basketball games, school plays, and if needed, maybe used for other school purposes.
The building we have in mind should meet all these requirements and also help out our school situation for a number of years to come. The cost
of this building should not exceed $30,000.
In closing let me state that I consider a Community Hall a profi table investment for the taxpayers of Amery. It may not bring dividends in dollars and cents, but it will pay a greater dividend in bettering the Community Spirit, not only among the people of our town, but between the people of Amery and our farmer friends.
We must bear in mind that as a city we cannot stand still, we must either go ahead or behind. If we wish to attract strangers we must make our city as attractive a place to live as possible. The improvements made in our city in the last ten years have cost money, but it must be remembered that if we want a good town, we will have to pay for it. – P. C. Amundson
90 Years Ago March 6, 1930
Butter Helps Ward Off Colds and Tuberculosis While most of us eat butter for its fl avor, we are doing our bodies a good turn at the same time.
Most of us like the fl avor of vegetables when they are served with a golden sauce of butter. We like to add butter to our sauce for steak and we want to use butter in our cakes and many other desserts just because we like it.
But, besides its delicious fl avor butter adds tremendously to the value of foods, according to Miss Gladys Stillman, of the home economics extension department at the University of Wisconsin. Butter is a fat and so, of course, it furnishes our bodies with heat and energy, but for more important to most of us is the vitamin A, which butter contains.
Humphrey comes to Clear Lake
This is a photo of the then Vice-President Hubert Humphrey at the Clear Lake dinner that launched a re-election campaign for Senator Gaylord Nelson. Vice President Humphrey was introduced as having served many years in the Senate as “Wisconsin’s third Senator.”
Scientists say that plenty of vitamin A in our food daily makes children grow better and gives adults more strength and vigor. In addition to all this, they emphasize that if we have enough vitamin A daily, we will be less apt to contract tuberculosis and we will be better able to resist the sinus and mastoid infections of which there are so many these days. Milk and milk products, especially cream and butter, are one of our best sources of this necessary vitamin.
Most American families can easily increase the amount of butter they use every day, Miss Stillman, says that fortunately the body stores this vitamin in the lungs and liver. And that excess makes it possible for our bodies to have resistance to certain diseases.
Merchants Burn Oleomargarine Come to Plainfi eld and watch the oleomargarine go up in fl ames.
That’s an invitation extended to farmers and townspeople in this section for Thursday night when merchants of Plainfi eld will stage a public bonfi re and burn up their stocks of oleomargarine. Thursday also marks the fi rst day of a Farmer’s Institute here.
The dealers also will throw into the fi re their oleomargarine licenses so that they will be unable to handle the butter substitute, in an effort to aid the farmer and the dairy industry.
The bonfi re will be held on the principal business street. Other attractions also have been arranged, with hundreds of persons from surrounding territory expected to be here.
85 Years Ago February 28, 1935 Eggs 50 Cents Eggs were only 19 cents the past two days, but the Free Press is still paying 50 cents a dozen for them to apply on subscriptions. Thus far farmers have brought in a total of approximately 290 dozen.
Scores of farmers have paid up their back subscriptions in this easy way and as many more have become new subscribers to the Free Press.
75 Years Ago March 8, 1945
We Knew it Was Bad…But For some time now, the housing situation has been more or less impossible in Amery. A fact that everyone more or less takes for granted. Few realize how really bad it is however. Last week Mrs. John Edman inserted a small 25 cent classifi ed advertisement in the want ad section of this paper with a fi ve room bungalow for rent. The fi rst day the number of calls almost caused a minor riot at the Edman home.
Twenty-six persons called the fi rst day and many more called in the days following. Just think of it – 26 persons want a home other than the one they now occupy.
Some of these calls came from parties whose homes in Amery had been sold under them, but the greater share of them, but the greater share of them came from persons from out of town seeking a residence here.
War Prisoner Gives $100 to Red Cross Recently the War Fund Chairman received a letter, which omitting names, is as follows.
“You will please fi nd enclosed a bank money order for $100.”
“My son is a prisoner of war and has written me that he has received such good treatment by the Red Cross he wanted me to make a $100 donation to them.”
This money was from the war prisoner’s own funds. He is a Polk County resident.
Site for Airport Purchased by Amery Individuals Saturday, March 3, marked the initial step to secure an airport for this community when four local residents purchased the farm of Art Wilberg with the intention of converting it into a fl ying fi eld. The farm is located about 3½ miles northwest of Amery on county trunk highway H and has already been approved as a Class I and possibly a Class II airport by the Wisconsin State Civil Aeronautics Authority. Involved in the transaction were Robert Iverson, Chet Johnson, C. V. Anderson and John J. Burman who purchased the farm from Art Wilberg.
Monday night, March 5, the student pilots in Amery held their fi rst meeting and formally organized into a club.
50 Years Ago March 5, 1970
Merchandise Finds Way Back to Room “Someone had a guilty conscience,” Supt. D. K. Lien said following the return of several “hot” tape recorders to the Amery High School.
During the Christmas holidays, tape recorders were stolen from the music room and library.
Last week, the person or persons responsible for the act, broke back into the school and returned the merchandise.
35 Years Ago March 5, 1985
Two Amery Schools Vandalized Amery school district this week offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for vandalizing two Amery schools Friday night.
Damage was discovered by Maintenance Supt., Art Kjeseth on Saturday morning. Amery police and Polk County sheriff’s deputies spent much of the morning itemizing damage and looking for clues. Supt. Ray Norsted said the damage would likely run between $10,000 and $15,000. Norsted was optimistic that the culprits would be apprehended. He said that one or more persons suffered glass cuts and bled at both Lien elementary school and the Amery middle school.
“You could say that damage was external at the elementary school and internal at the middle school,” observed Amery Police Offi cer, Tim Moore. Destruction at the elementary school included: 12, 44x77 double pane windows; 18, 21x44 double pane windows; 13, 21x44 screens; two porcelain drinking fountains located outside on the south side of the building were broken.
Moore said that the entrance to the building was gained through the rear, east doors. Blood was found on the interior door handles indicating that one of the persons was cut. Once inside the building, the vandals apparently ran up and down the halls breaking covers to fi re extinguisher holders, opening lockers and throwing relish taken from a food storage area.
At the middle school entry was gained by breaking glass on a door in the 1956 portion of middle school. The door faced south. Extensive damage was done to the biology room, teacher’s lounge, art room, library and classrooms occupied by Ted Heathfi eld and Rick Buhr.
Also destroyed by the vandals was a canvas tent and swing analyzer set, up in the 1929 building and used by the golf team. Moore said that the canvas was slashed, rendering it useless.
Other damage included: Art room – paint thrown throughout the room; Teacher’s lounge – Apple computer, television set and pop machine all destroyed; Biology – specimen bottles broken; Heathfi eld’s room – Apple computer, monitor and Epson printer and a fi lm strip machine with cassette were all destroyed. Window shades were ripped and books and learning materials thrown around the room; Library – an 8x4 ft. display case was broken when a wooden chair was thrown into it. A reclining chair was picked up and heaved through the library offi ce window. A fi lmstrip projector and cassette were destroyed.
Damage to Buhr’s room was pretty much limited to tipping over desks and throwing materials.
In addition, a boy’s bathroom was also vandalized.
Norsted said he expects other damage to show up once pupils and teachers report to school today. He said that nothing in the building was apparently stolen.
Moore said that other details about the vandalism are not being released until several suspects are interviewed. In other activity Friday night, mailboxes were damaged on Griffi n St. and a window in a pickup truck owned by Al Wheeler, Hawthorne St., was broken.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 summary, AHC has 64.9% interest in the WCCA, the City of Amery has 35.03% interest. The WCCA Board consists of two members appointed by AHC and one director from the city — the city administrator.
What follows is a timeline of minutes of the WCCA over the past 17 months.
AUGUST 2018-WHO WILL PAY FOR THE HVAC? Present at the meeting were members Debra Rudquist, AHC President/CEO, Kim Moore, City of Amery Administrator, Jim Leadholm, AHC and WCCA Board Member, Paul Isakson, Mayor of Amery and Jason Luhrs, Chief Financial Offi cer (CFO). A discussion took place about the split of the cost for the HVAC project and whether there would be a willingness to split the cost differently with AHC taking on a larger portion of the costs.
It was acknowledged that the bylaws for the WCCA would need to be revised in order to make this change since the HVAC system is considered to be a common element.
Both parties expressed concerns about an investment of this size into the building. Luhrs said he would have an assessment done of the roof and other infrastructure upgrades that might need to be done in the future. OCTOBER 2018-SHOULD MONEY BE INVESTED INTO AGED BUILDING? Present at the meeting were members Debra Rudquist, AHC President/CEO; Kim Moore, City of Amery Administrator, Jim Leadholm, AHC and WCCA Board Member and Guests Jason Luhrs, AHC CFO AND VP and Amery’s Mayor, Paul Isakson. According to WCCA minutes, there were two different totals for the city’s portion of a HVAC replacement; one being $1.25 million and the other was $900,000. Luhrs reported the AHC fi nance committee and Health Partners fi nance leadership have discussed the HVAC and whether it makes sense to spend millions of dollars to upgrade versus looking at other options.
AHC leadership is now working with an architectural fi rm to develop a “fi t plan” and cost estimate for a new building on the AHC campus. Mayor Isakson noted the City of Amery goals are to the grow city/tax basis and would prefer not to spend dollars on an aged building.
DECEMBER 2018-WOULD DEMOLISHING THE BUILDING BE AN OPTION? Present at the meeting were members Debra Rudquist, AHC President/CEO; Kim Moore, City of Amery Administrator, Jim Leadholm, AHC and WCCA Board Member and Guests Jason Luhrs, AHC CFO and VP and Amery’s Mayor, Paul Isakson.
According to WCCA minutes, Luhrs reviewed with the association members the cost for replacing the HVAC at the West Campus. Based off the facility carve outs (the amount occupied by both groups) the city’s portion would amount to $970,000; AHC’s cost total would be $2.78 million. Demolition costs were also pursued with the cost to the city being $735,000 and AHC’s $1.1 million.
A comparison chart from minutes showed a Roof Top Unit (RTU) HVAC price of $3,750,700 versus a demolition price of $1,835,000.
Luhrs and Rudquist mentioned senior leaders at AHC are working with an architectural fi rm to update the Master Facility Plan and there is a discussion regarding the feasibility of moving the current West Campus services to the main campus.
Following this discussion, Isakson and Moore noted that the City Council would need to have a closed session to discuss the various options and funding. This should take place at their January 2019 meeting. Both the city and AHC representatives agree that it does not seem wise to invest a large amount of money into an aged building. In the meantime, they will continue to temporarily fi x issues as they arise. The members also agreed that both parties would need to make a joint decision about the West Campus (WC) building.
Mayor Isakson believed the city council would have a lot of ideas for the campus at their closed session.
MARCH 2019-CITY OF AMERY INTERESTED IN PURCHASING WEST CAMPUS Present at the meeting were members Debra Rudquist, AHC President/CEO; Kim Moore, City of Amery Administrator, Jim Leadholm, AHC and WCCA Board Member and Guests Jason Luhrs, AHC CFO, Amery’s Mayor, Paul Isakson, Paul Mahler, Counsel for the City of Amery and Nancy Berry, Senior Counsel, Health Partners/AHC.
According to WCCA minutes, Isakson reported the Amery City Council met in closed session in February 2019 to discuss the West Campus HVAC situation and possible alternatives. He said council members were unanimously favorable to purchasing the WC property for a nominal amount versus investing one million dollars in HVAC upgrade. Rudquist clarifi ed that AHC was continuing to keep the information about a possible new building confi - dential and appreciated the city’s willingness to do the same.
JUNE 4, 2019-REPAIRS WOULD TOTAL $6.35 MILLION OVER FOUR YEARS Present at the meeting were members Debra Rudquist, AHC President/CEO; Kim Moore, City of Amery Administrator, Jim Leadholm, AHC and WCCA Board Member and Guests Jason Luhrs, AHC CFO and Amery’s Mayor, Paul Isakson.
According to WCCA minutes, a facility overview was presented that divided needed projects into four phases. The estimated budget was $6.35 million, with AHC’s portion totaling $4.19 million and the City of Amery total being $2.16 million.
Facility OverviewPhase 1
Estimated Budget: $1.3 million
• Amery Hospital & Clinic: $858K
• City of Amery: $442K Timeframe: • Fall 2019 or Spring 2020
Work: • Roof replacement: $10K • Humidity controls: $240K
• RTUs; 1, 2, 3, 4: $1.05 million
Facility OverviewPhase 2
Estimated Budget: $1.2 million
• Amery Hospital & Clinic: $792K
• City of Amery: $408K Timeframe: • Fall 2020 or Spring 2021
Work: • Legionella modifi cation to abandoned plumbing: $65K
• Doors, Windows, & Fire Proofi ng: $195K • Replace heating and cooling pneumatic controls: $270K
• RTUs; 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9: $670K
Facility OverviewPhase 3
Estimated Budget: $1.8 million
• Amery Hospital & Clinic: $1.188 million
• City of Amery: $612K Timeframe: • Fall 2021or Spring 2022
Work: • RTUs; 8, 9: $135K • Replace heating and cooling pneumatic controls: $270K
• Replace perimeter fan coil units: $285K
• Steam to hot water conversion: $1.05 million Facility OverviewPhase 4
Estimated Budget: $2.05 million
• Amery Hospital & Clinic: $1.353 million
• City of Amery: $697K Timeframe: • Fall 2022 or Spring 2023
Work: • Misc. Building Work: $155K
• Replace hot water circulator: $25OK
• Replace emergency generator: $425K
• Sprinkler piping & heads: $520K • Replace fi re alarm system: $700K
Isakson stated that from his perspective, the City Council would have a number of questions about the WC. He discussed other projects the city is committed to which may make it diffi cult to fund the WC infrastructure projects. He said it would be discussed at a June 5 meeting. He asked whether it would be possible to separate the utilities and HVAC for the city owned units. He discussed options the city might have to fund the WC infrastructure projects if the decision was made to proceed.
Rudquist and Luhrs encouraged the city to According to WCCA minutes, a facility overview was presented that divided needed projects into four phases. APRIL ZIEMER | AMERY FREE PRESS The West Campus is not the only aging building needing repairs. Amery’s City Hall (shown above) is also in need of costly improvemnts. SUBMITTED The West Campus Condo Association receives revenue each year from three units. The chart above shows the amount brought in by each over a four year span. ARMC West Campus Condo Association 2014-2018 Revenue: Fiscal Year 2018 Fiscal Year 2017 Fiscal Year 2016 Fiscal Year 2015 Fiscal Year 2014 Total 2014-2018 Unit 1 Library Assessment $27,270 $20,453 $16,362 $16,362 $25,906 $106,353 Unit 2 Police Dept. Assessment $7,760 $5,820 $4,656 $4,656 $7,372 $30,264 Unit 3 Amery Hospital & Clinic $64,970 $48,728 $38,982 $38,982 $61,722 $253,384 SEE AGREEMENT, PAGE 28 Explore Ireland June 8-18, 2021 The many sides of Ireland–from charming villages to vibrant cities and iconic castles. Informational Meeting Sunday, March 8 • 2 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church 217 Deronda St., Amery Tour Website & Itinerary: grouptoursite.com/tours/irelandwithlisa Lisa Ruehlow 715.554.3470 PamperedChefLisaR@gmail.com Go Ahead Tours
