Kasson residents attempt to save old school from bulldozers

Two Kasson, Minn. residents are asking a judge to issue a temporary restraining order to prevent the demolition of the city's historic public school building.

According to the complaint filed in Dodge County Court, the plaintiffs argue the abandoned public school building should be protected under the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act, which protects historical resources.

The complaint argues the 1918 building, which has been vacant for nearly a decade, is too valuable to come down.

In 2006, Kasson voters rejected a referendum to spend nearly $4 million to renovate the building. The city then moved to demolish it. Around the same time, a local preservation group placed the building on the National Register of Historic Places against the will of city officials.

City Administrator Randy Lenth said officials have exhausted their options to save the old building. He said this is the third lawsuit the city has faced to prevent demolition.

"This is part of the whole delaying tactic," Lenth said. "They're hanging their hat on anything they can do to save and keep the building there and let it fall in on its own instead of having us demolish it."

Lenth said the lawsuits have cost the city about $75,000 in attorney fees and staff time.

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