North St. Paul public works, school buses might get new facilities

City officials hope a former industrial site could become a new home for two resources in need of better accommodations.

By JEAN HOPFENSPERGER, Star Tribune

Last update: November 25, 2008 - 7:23 PM

North St. Paul needed a parcel of land for a new public works building. Its school district needed a different location for its fleet of school buses.

And if all goes as planned, the two projects could be housed at a former industrial site on McKnight Road.

"We're waiting on the final information from the architects and others who are analyzing the project, to see what can work on the site and at what cost,'' said North St. Paul Mayor Mike Kuehn. "Once we get that information, we'll be able to make some [final] decisions.''

Last month, the City Council approved $5 million to build or rebuild its public works facility, now located downtown across from the community center. The building houses the city's electrical utility, as well as equipment and storage for the parks department, street maintenance and city sewer and water operations.

But the 1950s-era facility has a leaky roof, poor air circulation and other safety hazards, said Kuehn. It wasn't originally designed to be a public works facility; part of the building was once a mink food manufacturing business, said City Council Member Paul Anderson.

Earlier this year, the city purchased property formerly owned by Och's Brick & Stone, at 2225 McKnight Road. The plan was to build a new facility there and use the existing building on the site for storage.

"We already own land around it, so by parcelling this part, we get eight acres,'' said Council Member Jan Walczak. "That gives us a nice piece of land to work with.''

Meanwhile the school district was considering a new location for its fleet of buses, now stationed near the intersection of Hwy. 36 and Hwy. 120. But the area, which is close to residential properties, is not an ideal fit, council members said.

The school district now is looking at a possible move to the McKnight Road location, said Kuehn. Ideally both projects could be located at the site, he said, which would allow the city and school district to share some operating costs.

Council Member Walczak, who had raised questions at council meetings about the project's impact on nearby wetlands, said she's satisfied the construction would not leave a deep environmental footprint.

"In fact we're looking at ways to make it more green" she said.

Any project isn't likely to get off the ground until at least next year, said Kuehn. "The biggest thing now will be how the numbers come in and the costs,'' said Kuehn. "We'll look at alternatives after that.''

Jean Hopfensperger • 651-298-1553

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