Realignment of Industrial Park Road approved

BAXTER -- Industrial Park Road in Baxter will be realigned where it intersects with College Road in the northwest portion of the city's industrial park.

The Baxter City Council Tuesday unanimously approved the $1.3 million realignment plan, which will allow for a signalized intersection at College and Industrial Park roads, said City Administrator Dennis Coryell.

As it currently runs, Industrial Park Road travels east to west through the industrial park, from Crow Wing County Road 48 near the Brainerd and Baxter border to the Minnesota Department of Transportation office near Highway 371, at which point Industrial Park Road turns south and connects to College Road.

With the realignment Industrial Park Road would still turn south near MnDOT offices, but instead of lining up with Evergreen Drive south of College Road it would line up with Douglas Fir Drive.

The council also directed staffers to finalize land acquisition negotiations with landowners for the realignment.

In other action, the council:

Held a public hearing and approved a JOBZ business subsidy application from Lindar Corp., a plastics manufacturing company in the Baxter Industrial Park that will be expanding operations.

Set a community meeting on March 4 at Forestview Middle School.

Set a budget workshop at 6 p.m. on Oct. 24.

Set a special council meeting at 6:15 p.m. on Oct. 25 to award 2005 bond issues.

MATT ERICKSON can be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.