Building permit denial delays Wadena County annex project

For months - maybe even years - the Wadena County Board put off dealing directly with the courthouse’s failure to comply with the City of Wadena’s City Code, Chapter 11, that requires property to meet off-street parking requirements.

Dean Uselman, City of Wadena Planning and Zoning Director, notified the County Administrator on April 10, 2015, that the county was out of compliance and that “any future expansion would need to address this issue” (Letter dated April 10, 2015).

Now that the county board is preparing to move forward with construction of the new Courthouse Annex at its Jefferson Street location, the city is requiring the county to apply for rezoning of several adjoining properties that the county bought to use as parking lots, and for a variance from the City Code. 

Even if the new parking lots are created through rezoning, the county still would not be in compliance. Additional space would be required to meet the City Code for off-street parking, or a variance would have to be obtained.

At the Oct. 11 board meeting, Uselman appeared before the board to inform commissioners that the City would not issue a building permit for the Annex until the county came into compliance with the City Code for off-street parking.

Uselman and the board discussed a process for meeting the City Code or for obtaining a variance from the City Code, so that construction on the project could begin. 

The legal requirements for giving public notice of City Council meeting dates and agendas and of Planning and Zoning meetings and agendas mean that if everything goes the way the county wishes, the excavation for the Annex still could not begin until November 16.

At that date, the weather may prevent excavation for the footings and foundation of the Annex. This would delay construction until spring, and the contractor bids already submitted would expire. The entire bid process would have to be redone, further delaying the work.

Vercon, Inc., representative Justin Maaninga, told the board that if the ground could be prevented from freezing, then construction could go forward on Nov. 16. County Engineer Ryan Odden told the board that employees of the Highway Department could cover up the proposed construction area and maintain a ground temperature above 32 degrees F.

Maaninga was present at the board meeting to present the bids for the Annex project and get board approval. But the board declined to vote on the bids, instead proposing to vote at a board meeting on Nov. 16 (changed from the original Nov. 15 date). 

The bids expire on Nov. 23.

Odden presented the board with other options for meeting the City Code for off-street parking, including purchasing or leasing one additional city lot that would furnish enough space for the parking that the City Code mandates. But the board declined to choose any of the other options.

For now, the Annex project is on hold as the county waits for the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission to hold a special meeting to discuss the county’s request for a variance, and then after that, the City Council will meet to vote on the variance.

In other business, the board

o Heard a report from Leota Lind, CEO of South Country Health Alliance.

o Approved a resolution that allows the county to opt out of Minnesota Statute 394.307 regarding second homes for temporary health-care dwellings on private property.

o Approved a revision of the West Central Minnesota Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force Joint Powers Agreement to permit the City of Detroit Lakes to rejoin the group.

o Approved the renewal of a liquor license for Knob Hill Sportsman’s Club for 2017.

o Denied approval of a new logo for the Friendly Rider transit service.

o Heard a report on a new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District to be proposed to the City of Wadena for an Assisted Living project that could bring 18 jobs to the City.

o Held closed meetings to discuss labor contracts and pending litigation.