by April Scheinoha
Reporter
Remodeling and building projects were among the topics discussed at the Pennington County Board meeting Tuesday, Jan. 28.
Commissioner Bruce Lawrence provided an update on remodeling the county Department of Motor Vehicles office. The office is located at the Government Center, formerly known as the courthouse. The county plans to expand the office into the former site of the County Attorney’s Office, which has since moved to the Justice Center.
Lawrence said fellow Commissioner Darryl Tveitbakk had contacted architectural firm BKV Group to possibly create a conceptual drawing for the remodeling project. BKV Group worked on the Justice Center. Lawrence noted that a DMV employee created drawings of what employees wanted and needed in that area. He asked whether the county could instead use the employee’s drawings for the project.
Commissioner Don Jensen noted that the county is required to seek bids and consult with an architect if the project is more than $100,000. Lawrence replied that the county budgeted $25,000 to remodel the area this year.
The matter is expected to be discussed further at an upcoming meeting of the Building Committee.
Commissioners scheduled a bid opening for the roundabout west of Challenger Elementary School. Bids will be opened Monday, March 9 at 11 a.m.
The roundabout will be constructed as part of the estimated $7.5 million Mark Boulevard bridge project. The county is in the process of constructing the Mark Boulevard bridge connecting the area near CES with the area north of Sanford Health. Two roundabouts are planned as part of that project – the CES roundabout and a roundabout on Highway 32 north of Sanford Health. It is anticipated that the bridge would be completed by the end of the 2020 construction season. The Highway 32 roundabout is scheduled to be completed by the end of July 2020. Construction on the CES roundabout will start in summer 2020 after school has ended. The CES roundabout will be completed in summer 2020.
Work has started on the bridge. Pennington County Engineer Mike Flaagan said a cofferdam was built weeks ago, allowing a crew to drive pile and pour the footing for the west pier of the bridge. Further construction of the west pier is expected to continue for the next couple of weeks. Work will then move to the cofferdam for the east pier.
Faye Auchenpaugh, who serves on the City Auditorium Committee, presented the final draft of the “Future of the Old Auditorium Adaptive Reuse Plan.”
If the county chooses to move forward with renovating county-owned City Auditorium, it is expected that it could cost several million dollars.
City Auditorium was dedicated in February 1934 after the former City Auditorium burned down a year earlier. Currently, the building is in disrepair, and the building doesn’t comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The county pays about $30,000 per year to maintain the building, which is leased to several tenants. Rental fees don’t cover the cost of operating the building.
To help it determine how to proceed, the county hired a University of Minnesota senior research fellow and a graduate student to obtain public input and craft a design. Their work was covered by grants and private donations.
After meeting with the public, Virajita Singh and Kenos Leong proposed the following:
• Building a handicapped-accessible entrance between the Pennington County Government Center (formerly known as the courthouse) and City Auditorium, and installing an elevator;
• In the basement: Renovating an area for a childcare center, installing cardio machines for the public, renovating a bathroom, creating a gathering hub, creating a multipurpose room/rental party room, updating the kitchen for community use, and creating a storage area for the Thief River Falls Area Community Theater;
• On the ground floor: Creating a garden, a nature playground, an information desk area, a coffee bar and a co-working/quiet room. The stage and gym floors would remain there.
• On the second floor: Creating a history gallery, a learning center (for technology and art) and an art gallery. However, one row of balcony seats would remain on the second floor.
Auchenpaugh said the State Historic Preservation Office has reviewed the county’s application to have City Auditorium listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It determined that the application met all of the criteria. The application now goes before the Minnesota Historical Society’s State Review Board. That group meets Tuesday, March 24. If the board passes it, the application then proceeds to the U.S. Department of Interior for final approval.
After Auchenpaugh left the meeting, commissioners noted that they are still investigating their options for the building. Lawrence said he had spoken with an asbestos removal expert, who plans to tour the building and provide an estimate for asbestos abatement.