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Resident tells Owatonna school board lights outside district building are too bright at night
Summary
A resident told the Owatonna school board during public forum that exterior lights at the district's former Egg building and the east side of the large building are "significantly, too bright" at night and asked the district to consider dimming or motion sensors.
OWATONNA, Minn. — During the public forum at the Owatonna Public School District Board of Education meeting on Aug. 25, resident Matthew Kern urged the district to address exterior lighting near the school building that he said is overly bright at night.
Kern, who said he lives at 417 East School Street near the former math and science wing, told the board: "they're significantly, too bright of lights." He said the lights are always on at night and suggested the district consider reducing brightness or installing motion sensors so the lights operate at lower levels during non-school hours.
Kern said he had previously emailed the district director of grounds and was told the director would look into the matter but that he had not received a follow-up. He added that several neighbors on Harriet Street, including some who work for the district, had also raised concerns.
Board response and next steps
The board asked Kern to fill out a public-comment card and leave contact information so staff can follow up. During the meeting the chair also reminded the public about meeting decorum, saying the board does not allow "slander, defamation, profanity, personal attacks, revelations of private data," and that speakers are given three minutes to state their name and subject.
What was not decided: The board did not take formal action on lighting at the meeting and no timetable for staff follow-up was provided on the record. Kern requested the district review the lights with reference to city ordinances; the transcript does not show a staff finding on whether the lights violate local code.
