Cornell City Council - A Kwik Trip just isn’t in the cards for us

By Ginna Young

It’s been rumored for about a year, that Cornell was in line to get a Kwik Trip, something many in the community desired. While it’s true efforts have been made to facilitate that goal, alderperson Sandy Schecklman broke the bad news to the Cornell City Council, Feb. 20.

“We can’t get one here,” she said. Over the last year, Schecklman has been in contact with Kwik Trip officials. Based on a traffic count study conducted a few years ago, Cornell did not have enough vehicles passing through the city to meet the guidelines of bringing in a Kwik Trip.

Schecklman refused to give up and asked that a new study be done. Once the numbers from that came in, the decision was already made, per Kwik Trip requirements.

Unfortunately, a town must have 10,000 vehicles pass through their limits each day (Cornell is at 6,000/day), or a population of 3,000. The count is based on numbers taken from a study done on State Hwy. 27.

“They don’t take in consideration that we have three highways here, that come through town,” said Schecklman.

So, while the wish is still there, Cornell is out of options, as is Holcombe, who also longed for a Kwik Trip.

“They have the same traffic count we have,” said Schecklman. “So, until that increases, there’s nothing we can do to get a Kwik Trip here.”

There was some good news, as Xcel Energy has invited the city to apply for some Natural Resource Fund monies. With their hydro-electric dam re-licensing, Xcel is required to have money available to Cornell, to fund projects in, and along, the Chippewa River.

It was suggested by council member Terry Smith, that they could install a boat landing on the west side of the river, past the dam, while a handicapped fishing pier was also brought up. However, city administrator Dave De-Jongh believes that will actually be taken care of, as part of their re-licensing.

“It’s a five-year process, so it doesn’t happen overnight,” he said. “There are some amenities that are going to be showing up.”

Also discussed, was hiring Cedar Corp. to reapply for a CDBG-Public Facilities Grant, which help fund the much needed Bates Street reconstruction project. Last year, Cornell had applied for the grant, but was one city below the funding level.

If awarded, Cornell would receive $1 million, with a $500,000 match required by the city. Since they’ve already done the work on the application, Cedar Corp. cut the city a deal, not to exceed $3,500.

It was agreed to hire Cedar Corp. to take care of the application and grant administration. “I think it’s worth our while to reapply,” said DeJongh.