The City of Fergus Falls has released the three possible Tower Road Bridge designs that they have been looking at. They are available in “.PDF” formats below.
Bridge Design #1
Bridge Design #2
Bridge Design #3
Archive for April, 2008
Tower Road Bridge design concepts availble
On April - 29 - 2008
President of Campus Development Group returns from Successful Trip to China
On April - 29 - 2008
Anderson represents Campus Development Group, CDG, which is redeveloping the former Regional Treatment Center property into a cross cultural business college. On his recent trip to China, he called on both public and private universities to form a coalition of colleges from both the US and China. The CDG has very good support and high interest from the Chinese Universities from Hunan Province. They are very interested in the college in Fergus Falls, not only the public universities but also large private universities with student bodies running up to 27,000 students. The combined student enrollment for the colleges is over 100,000 students.
They also met with private developers in China who may invest in the campus which will allow the construction phase to begin. The CDG is, in effect, doing two projects at the same time. They are developing the campus for a college and also creating the college who will be the tenant for the real estate. Our goal of seven colleges from Minnesota, North Dakota and at least seven universities from China focusing on international business. The coalition of colleges will be running the International College in Fergus Falls and all will be sending students as part of their curriculum. This is very unique and exciting and builds a very strong foundation for
the future.
The students will learn that there is a cultural difference not only in language but also in the nuances of doing business. Navigating through the differences can delay projects and create undo hardships for businesses because of misunderstandings. This creates a need for a college like this which will focus on international business with both US and Chinese students studying and problem solving together. Students need to experience these differences to learn and it is not something that they pick up by reading a book. Strong bonds will be formed and these will be the future leaders and entrepreneurs with ties to our area.
Anderson can attest to some of these differences in communication after spending a month in China. He will be over there another five weeks on the next trip, and continue to work out agreements with potential universities and partners.
He also feels the project is definitely moving in the right direction and has had meetings with Hunan Provincial Officials who support the project and will be visiting the Fergus Falls area this summer.
It is very important to have the support of the Hunan Provincial government because they see this as beneficial for their students and it opens up opportunities for their schools. Building stronger ties with a province of 70 million people will also open up opportunities for our area businesses in the future. It has been very enjoyable to meet with the officials in China and we look forward to continued discussions in May.
Of course a project of this size takes a lot of time to put together. Anderson knows they will have some setbacks from time to time, but feels they are making significant progress and moving in the right direction.
This will have a very positive economic impact not only on Fergus Falls but the whole area. With over 1,500 students on the campus we will also bring students to Fergus to take advantage of the Fergus Community and Technical College’s courses. This is a win win for everybody and an economically sound project for the historic grounds of the RTC campus. Anderson feels these are exciting times for our community and area when this all comes together.
Fergus Falls as a community has been very supportive and the city is working hard to help make this a success. We will continue to need the support from the city of Fergus Falls, The Fergus Falls Economic Development Commission and the community to make this happen. Anderson works with a very experienced team: Jeff Schlossman (Goldmark Schlossman), Doug Burgum (Hawthorne Group) and Lili Pan from Shenzhen, China.
Anderson would like to thank everybody for their encouragement and support. CDG will continue to work hard to make this project a success for our area.
For more information, visit www.campus-development.com.
This article has been re-published with permission from Richard Anderson from Campus Development Group.
Disabled Veteran tax break alert
On April - 27 - 2008
Disabled veterans with a disability rating between seventy (70) percent and one hundred (100) percent have a big property tax break in their future if they act by July of 2008. Contact the Otter Tail County Veterans Service Officer at 998-8605, for complete details. Basically the new rules provide for a 100% reduction in property taxes for a 100% disabled veteran on property valued up to three hundred thousand dollars, as long as the property in question is homesteaded. That means a veteran with a homestead home valued at two hundred thousand dollars (or any amount less than three hundred thousand dollars) could deduct the entire value of his home and pay no property taxes in 2009. Veterans with a disability rating of as little as seventy (70) percent qualify for a deduction of up to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars of the value of their home. These same rules apply to qualifying widows of disabled veterans. Even if a veteran currently qualifies for a property tax reduction of a lesser amount they must re-apply by July of 2008. The paperwork necessary of this tax reduction will be available during the month of June at the county assessors office.
Introducing our new feature… “Gas Prices”
On April - 27 - 2008
In partnership with GasBuddy, Fergus Forum is now allowing you to see the latest local gas prices from ten local gas stations in Fergus Falls! To view the cheapest (and highest) gas prices in town, just click the “Gas Prices” tab under our logo.
Free rides on CCRT this week to Fargo
On April - 24 - 2008
Clay County Rural Transit is giving free rides from Barnsville to Fargo April 24th through the 30th to allow potential users of the Fergus Falls to Fargo route a feel to see how the service will be like. For more information, visit www.co.clay.mn.us.
Thunderstorms likely Thursday
On April - 24 - 2008
Thunderstorms are likely throughout the day Thursday as a weather system coming from the Dakota’s makes it way into Fergus Falls. The system will continue on into Friday when it may produce some snow, but not measurable amounts.
“The Psychosis of Ghosts” will not be filmed at RTC
On April - 19 - 2008
“The Psychosis of Ghosts”, a movie that was hoped to filmed at the Regional Treatment Center in Fergus Falls will not happen after the Fergus Falls City Council voted down the project, by 6 to 2, on Monday night. According to Richard Anderson, the Campus Development Group is near the point to signing solid agreements with Chinese universities. Dav Kaufman will now look elsewhere for his upcoming movie.
Otter Tail Power protesters
On April - 15 - 2008
The Fergus Falls Daily Journal recently ran a story about protesters at the Otter Tail Power shareholders meeting and luncheon. As far as the luncheon at the Bigwood Event Center, there was only one protester there and he was directed to leave the property.
High School student suspended for “short shorts”
On April - 14 - 2008
A tipster has notified us that a student was suspended today at the Fergus Falls Senior High School for wearing short shorts that were 1/2 inch below the appropriate length of the District’s policy – which is unknown. More information will be posted as it becomes available.
Is Fergus Falls really a retirement community?
On April - 13 - 2008
You’ve all heard it one point in your lives living in Fergus Falls. But, is Fergus Falls really a retirement community? Let’s look at the facts from the 2000 Census. The median age of the residents in this town is 39.7 years old, while Alexandria’s median age is 39.6. Almost 75 percent of Fergus Falls are below the age of 50. The medium household income for a family in Fergus Falls is $36,245 – and only 3.2% of our community is unemployed. Alexandria is just beating Fergus Falls’ medium income by less than $2,000.
Next time you hear someone say “Fergus Falls is a retirement community” or “Alexandria is so much better than Fergus” you know differently.
If you’re interested in seeing more information about Fergus Falls’ demographic information, visit http://zipskinny.com/index.php?zip=56537&pagetype=main
