Waite Park Holding Public Hearing in March on Renovated City Hall

(KNSI) – During a work session Monday, the Waite Park City Council heard from staff on a plan to relocate all police department personnel to the public works building during the expansion of city hall.

The project is scheduled to last up to 16 months but Chief Anthony Reznicek is hoping his department will be back at the 13th Avenue building before that. “The intent is to move back into the new facility as soon as it’s safe to do so, balancing needs of staff and also, obviously, making sure it’s safe for the public to be able to come in and out.”

City staff would also relocate. Construction manager Bradbury Stamm estimates that the move will reduce overall construction time by over one month and save a couple hundred thousand dollars on what is a $28 million project. It is part renovation/part expansion.

The new wing on the north side will eventually house a growing police department. Reznicek was part of the steering committee offering input during the schematic design process. He believes they worked hard to ensure the building will last decades.

“We think we came up with a really solid plan that meets all the operational needs of our PD today, and obviously lots of space for future growth for the city and the operational needs of the future.”

Architect BKV showed concept slides of a warm, inviting place welcoming the public inside. Residents will have a chance to learn more about the project at an open house on March 10th. If the plan is approved at a public hearing next month, general obligation bonds would be issued in May, and construction would begin in July.

Northland Securities says it can finance the project and absorb three outstanding general obligation bonds without changing the current monthly debt service payments. The project will be funded for the first $20 million through a half-cent local-use sales tax. A Capital Improvement Plan bond would cover the rest. If adopted, the city would be paying the bonds until 2050.

Staff hopes the renovations will be far enough along by next August that they won’t need to change precinct locations for the 2026 primary election.

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