Deerwood mulls auditorium work
DEERWOOD - The Deerwood Auditorium, which is on the National Historic Registry and holds many dear memories, was built in 1936 for $43,000.
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Fast forward 73 years to 2009, the auditorium has become dilapidated and in today's dollars could cost $1 million to fix.
The Deerwood City Council is faced with two tough decisions - whether to restore the auditorium and at what cost.
Deerwood Mayor Mike Aulie said the last thing the city wants to do is raise taxes for the project. Aulie said the cost of the project would be draining on the budget for a city with a population of 590, especially in today's economy.
The Deerwood City Council is faced with a tough decision on whether to restore the Deerwood Auditorium and at what cost. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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"A lot of people want to see it saved, but no one wants a levy increase," Aulie said Tuesday as he sat in the city office, which is housed in the auditorium along with the police department. "We held a public hearing on March 2 (on the auditorium) but there wasn't a good turnout."
Over the years, Aulie said periodic maintenance work was done to the auditorium, including new windows and roof patchwork.
"The time has come to do the whole thing," said Aulie. "All the issues have been Band-Aided. Now is the time to either spend the money to restore it or look at other options to either sell it - or demolish it is another option."
Aulie said the auditorium, in the heart of Deerwood, has been used consistently for a variety of purposes in the community, including wedding receptions, concerts, political gatherings, fundraisers, youth activities and church-related functions.
In 2005, a previous city council hired Widseth Smith Nolting to conduct an evaluation of the auditorium, but no action was taken. Then WSN found moisture problems concerning the exterior of the building, which is built of stone, and many recurring interior issues that were building code-related. The building can seat up to 1,000 people and it would need to more than quadruple its number of bathroom stalls to meet building codes. The plumbing, heating and cooling and electrical systems are inadequate and there is no fire protection system.
During a tour of the auditorium Tuesday, council member Debby Leonard pointed to several portions of walls with water stains and other areas where the plaster has come off the walls and the ceiling. Leonard said the kitchen is outdated and the auditorium needs better acoustics. In the basement, where the electrical systems are housed, Leonard said, "There are bats down here."
Mary Kadlec, Deerwood city clerk-treasurer, said on average it costs the city $2,500 a month to heat the building in the winter.
The Deerwood Auditorium, built in 1936 and on the National Historic Registry, has housed many community events over the years from wedding receptions to concerts to political gatherings to youth activities. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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Aulie said if the city agrees to restore the auditorium, it would like to do it in two phases. The first phase would be the exterior work only and would cost $412,000. Aulie said the city has been able to obtain $260,000 of dedicated grants, which includes a $65,000 low-interest loan to help pay for the auditorium. This would leave the city with $152,000 to raise.
"At this time we're hoping to raise this money and then decide whether to proceed with the project," said Aulie. "Phase Two is the interior work and we don't know how much it'd cost, but it could easily be another $500,000.
"We got rid of the Deerwood Depot years ago and I'd hate to get rid of another historical piece of our culture," Aulie said.
Leonard said, "We have a tough decision to make. People here have a huge sentimental attachment to the auditorium, especially those who attended Deerwood Elementary School."
Terry Swanson, owner of Deerwood Lumber, said "I grew up here. I performed in the auditorium when I attended school in Deerwood. I would like to see it saved and stay open for activities. I'm in a Cuyuna Range Community Band. We perform there every December."
Swanson said the city will have to look outside of Deerwood to raise money because of the town's small population.
"With any luck, this (restoring the auditorium) will bring some business back here for those who don't have jobs and help build the economy," Swanson said.
Deerwood Mayor Mike Aulie Tuesday talked about what repairs are needed to fix the Deerwood Auditorium as council member Debby Leonard listened, while sitting in city offices housed in the auditorium. The Deerwood City Council has not decided whether to restore the auditorium, which has become dilapidated over the decades. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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Mike Kneeland, a Deerwood Planning and Zoning Board member and who was mayor for the city for many years, said, "I think we should maintain it. It is a city landmark. It'd be a shame to lose it, but it'd be expensive to restore. ... The auditorium is sentimental to a lot of people. The council has a tough decision to make."
Deerwood council member Tom Nixon said in a telephone interview that it's not fun to cast the "unpopular vote." Nixon said if it came down to approving funding for the auditorium or other city needs, such as water and sewer or roads, he'd vote against the auditorium.
"I'm a realistic person," said Nixon. "We have a nostalgic monument in our city that we use for important events. I have a lot of fond memories, I've been to wedding receptions there. But we have a fiscal responsibility to fix our sewer and water, our roads. The auditorium was poorly constructed and has been rotted inside and out. We're looking at a lot of money here. ... We all have to pay taxes for the commonwealth and everyone shares services. We're a population that would bear the burden and people don't have money in their pockets."
Nixon said he's also concerned about the health and environmental issues for staff members housed at the deteriorating auditorium, such as mold issues.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.