St. Louis County school district levy opponents gain signatures

A group opposed to the St. Louis County school district referendum that passed Dec. 8 say they now have enough signatures on a petition that demands the Minnesota state auditor investigate district activities leading up to the vote.

The group filed a petition with the St. Louis county auditor for confirmation that they say should prompt an investigation by State Auditor Rebecca Otto into alleged allegations of misuse of public funds to promote the $78 million referendum.

The referendum passed 52 percent to 48 percent, with voters in communities that would get new or improved schools — Cotton, Cherry, Babbitt, Embarrass, Alborn and Brookston — favoring the measure, while voters in Orr, Cook and Tower-Soudan opposed the plan that closed schools in those towns.

Most of the signatures came from the Cook, Orr and Tower areas.

“We believe the overwhelming response from residents … demonstrates the depth of concern over the district’s plan to close vital schools in the three communities,” Cook Mayor Dick Edblom said in a new release. “Nearly 1,400 signatures were gathered in barely a week.”

District officials have said they did nothing improper while informing residents on the issue leading up to the vote.

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