Bond to be awarded to county

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JACKSON — Jackson County will get the full $25,000 bond posted by the Jackson Preservation Alliance in its unsuccessful attempt to halt the demolition of the Jackson County Resource Center, a judge ruled this week.

“The $25,000.00 bond on deposit with the Jackson County Court Administrator will be disbursed to Jackson County, on behalf of its taxpayers, for reimbursement for damages arising from the delayed demolition…” wrote Judge Douglas Richards in his decision, filed June 14.

Six people, including Cathy Buxengard, Ken Temple and Mike Handzus, donated $4,166.34 each in order to put up the security bond, which was required to temporarily restrain the county from demolishing the 1934 portion of the Resource Center.

After the building was demolished in order to make room for a new county Human Services building, the Alliance agreed to turn over $6,250 of the bond to the county to help pay its costs.

The county agreed not to seek further damages — provided the Alliance dropped a petition that would have slowed the county’s demolition and building efforts. Each side claims the other side did not follow through with the agreement, and the county opted to ask the court for the full $25,000 bond — and the judge agreed.

“I can’t believe it, that the judge could do that,” said Cheryl Brooks, president of the Alliance. “… those six people are out that money, even though the county promised to pay them 75 percent of it. They reneged on it.”

According to Richards’ decision, the county successfully demonstrated the demolition delay caused by the Alliance cost county taxpayers $35,950, which exceeded the amount of the bond.

“I’m just really wondering what’s going on here. Was this all set in stone before we ever set foot in the courtroom? A person has to wonder,” Brooks said, noting she believes the county would have tried to take the bond money regardless of what the Alliance did.

“I think the judge did the right thing,” said Bob O’Connor, Jackson County Attorney. “I think he made the correct ruling.”

The state of Minnesota has possession of the funds, and Jackson County will likely receive them in two to three days, O’Connor added. The new Human Services building is expected to be complete by January.

The Preservation Alliance’s next efforts will be devoted to raising money for the Historic State Theatre in Jackson, and its upgrade to digital projection and audio, which will allow the theater to continue operations.

Tags: news, jackson, preservation, alliance, judicial, ruling