Plans drawn up for joint public works facility in Crosslake

Building plans for the Crosslake joint public works facility have been drawn up.

Crow Wing County Highway Engineer Duane Blanck shared the plans Tuesday with the Crow Wing County Board, which approved the first payment for design services for about $12,400.

The facility will be built on County Road 3 in Crosslake near the Crosslake American Legion Club. The site will be used for storage of equipment and other public works uses.

The city and county will share the building and cost. Cost of the project is estimated at $2.94 million. The county will pay 52 percent and Crosslake, 48 percent.

The county and city needed more storage facilities for the highway department so a joint arrangement was made, Blanck said.

Widseth, Smith and Nolting designed a three-building layout on the 14-acre property where the buildings are scattered. Blanck said residents to the east of the property had concerns about the building layout and did not want the facilities constructed parallel with the property lines.

Each building will have the county and city portion separated, with one building having a commons area. The main building will be heated with a mechanical and work room, office and conference area. It will be 24,400 square feet.

A second building -- 10,800 square feet -- will store off-season equipment. This unheated building will be constructed as a pole shed. The last building will store salt and sand. This facility will be 9,200 square feet.

The floor plan of the buildings will be similar to the existing building in Brainerd.

Once the joint facility is constructed and space in the county's existing county garages frees up the existing garages most likely will be shared with Pequot Lakes and Emily. Pequot Lakes and Emily also need a spot for highway equipment since Pequot Lakes has outgrown its space for public works and Emily does not have a heated garage.

Construction is set for mid-summer and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2003.