Published: May 13, 2008 07:11 pm         

Our View: Individuals make a difference

From solar-powered commercial structures to neighborhood improvement groups, citizen activism appears alive and well in the Mankato area.

News last week that the Mankato Place Mall owner had developed and installed a solar energy system and that three distinct neighborhoods had formed associations for improvement had to shed a little optimism on the day of even the most jaded cynics.

The two events were not connected in any way except they happen to be examples of people making differences in the major challenges we face. Gordon Awsumb has installed possibly the largest solar collection system in southern Minnesota at the Mankato Place Mall. A combination of solar panels provide electricity but also reflect the sun’s light to reduce up to 80 percent of electric light needed to light offices during the day.

The solar panel and conservation system will provide 6 percent of the mall’s electrical needs and a 23 percent savings. Payback on the investment will take about 15 to 17 years, making a 17 percent annual return.

Not far from the mall, neighborhood leaders in Lincoln Park, Washington Park and Highland Park are exercising their own kind of activism to make their neighborhoods safer and better. With the help of the city of Mankato citizens have joined together in these neighborhoods to monitor things like rental housing compliance, and have involved their fellow citizens on important matters like traffic flow and safety.

The neighborhoods are dealing with changing demographics that often lead longtime homeowners to sell their homes as they retire elsewhere. In some cases, those homes are bought by landlords who want to rent them out. Trouble is, there are restrictions to renting in some residential areas. And the neighborhood groups, instead of relying on the government to solve the problem, have done things on their own, such as notify the government when they see a rental housing unit violating the rules.

Neighborhood residents have even gone as far as notify the city when a for-sale sign goes up on a home and the city responds with letters to Realtors informing them of zoning and rental restrictions.

Clearly, the neighborhood and developer Awsumb took individual responsibility to improving the community and adding to its attractiveness. From that we should all take a lesson.