KNOT notes

Cloquet Public Library to develop youth computer coding programs

Cloquet Public Library received $500 from the American Library Association (ALA) to help plan and implement coding activities during Computer Science Education week 2018 (Dec. 3-9, 2018) and beyond. Cloquet is one of 250 school and public libraries around the country to receive this micro-funding from Libraries Ready to Code, an initiative of the American Library Association sponsored by Google.

“Cloquet Public Library is excited to be able to offer this opportunity to our community

and with this grant from Google our program will be stronger and more sustainable,” said Library Director Beth Sorenson.

This micro-funding will give Cloquet Public Library a jump start to provide year-round STEM programming for teens and tweens. This money will be used to purchase updated computer equipment and a monthly technology subscription box filled with coding, robotics and other STEM activities.

The 250 libraries selected for CS Ed Week funding will each host activities based on Google’s free CS First curriculum, which uses video-based instruction to introduce CS to kids through block-based coding. Libraries will pursue projects that reflect Ready to Code themes critical for advancing youth learning, especially for building computational thinking literacies. CS Ed Week at Cloquet Public Library began Monday with 30-minute programs at 4 p.m. each day. This programming is aimed at teens and tweens but all are welcome to attend.

State Rep. Mike Sundin to chair new Labor House committee

State Rep. Mike Sundin (DFL–Esko) will chair a newly-created House Committee on Labor issues for the 2019-2020 biennium.

Sundin said he is proud to work with the DFL’s new majority and Minnesota House Speaker-designate Melissa Hortman to bring a “much-needed focus” back to Labor issues.

“The economic success of Minnesota compared to our neighbors in Wisconsin isn’t a coincidence,” Sundin said. “It’s because we value the working people living in every corner of this state and we don’t use our state government as a weapon against organized labor. I look forward to working with my colleagues to level the playing field for Minnesota workers trying to get ahead in every region and in every profession. Our state is ready for an ambitious agenda to increase economic prosperity for all Minnesotans.”

Rep. Sundin encourages constituents to contact him on any legislative issue. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 651-296-4308.

Cloquet to demolish abandoned home

The Cloquet City Council voted unanimously Nov. 20 to pay Land Logic nearly $6,000 to demolish an abandoned home located at 316 20th Street in Cloquet. An eyesore, the building has lacked sewer and water since June of 2014, and electricity since August of 2014. The floor system is structurally compromised and the house has settled into the crawl space, plus the roof, ceiling and wall framing are compromised due to rot and decay. The listed owner of the property is High Mark Management, LLC, which took possession of the home in 2016, with plans to demolish the structure and build a new home on the property. However, the company went out of business shortly after the purchase. According to the city resolution, the motion should be enforced three weeks after it passes unless the owner has taken corrective action or filed an answer. Costs for demolition and cleanup will be assessed against the property.

City administrator finalist for Prior Lake job

Cloquet City Administrator Aaron Reeves is one of four finalists for the job of Prior Lake City Manager. According to cityofpriorlake.com, finalist interviews were scheduled for this week with an open house Wednesday. They hope to have a new city manager in place by Feb. 1. Reeves has been city administrator in Cloquet since October 2017. Prior to that, he worked for the city of Rochester for nearly four years as assistant city administrator and city clerk/development coordinator. He has also served as city administrator for the cities of Cannon Falls and Kenyon. The population of Prior Lake was 25,282 in 2015. Reeves did not respond to an email from the Pine Knot before the paper went to press.