The leader of a group seeking to save the old Cass County Jail and sheriff's residence said Tuesday he wants to make it an election issue.
"We're exasperated," said High Plains Reader publisher John Strand, head of an informal citizens' group that wants to see the buildings saved from demolition. "I guess the only thing I can hope for is whoever the people elect will have more of a reflection of the diverse view of the community.
"I think it needs to be an election issue. I think it needs to be handled by a future commission."
On Monday, Cass County commissioners will vote on the group's request to put a two-year moratorium on razing of the jail.
The group wants to use those two years to explore alternate uses for the buildings, but the commission has shown little interest in the proposal.
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Strand was particularly irritated by a Sept. 23 letter from Cass County Commission Chairman Al Wieland to Doug Burgum of Microsoft Great Plains.
Wieland wrote the three-page letter to Burgum to explain why the county seeks to demolish the old jail and sheriff's residence. It was a response to an e-mail Burgum wrote commissioners advocating that the old buildings be spared.
"That letter is just an indication of the wall we run into attitudinally ... an indication of how stubborn and determined (commissioners) are to stick to their guns," Strand said.
Strand said he also was angered by a line in the letter that says neither building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Both are.
"If we can't get an agreement on the fact that they are on the National Register, how can we get people to appreciate the historic significance of these buildings," Strand said.
When asked about the statement in the letter, Wieland said he was wrong.
He said he wrote the letter to Burgum because Burgum had initially contacted commissioners.
"Because he's a guy who's really interested in saving old buildings, I thought it would be fair for me to respond to him," Wieland said.
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Burgum could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Tom Pantera at (701) 241-5541
