South St. Paul is weighing whether to add an Economic and Community Development Department, consolidating three existing city divisions under one umbrella.
"It's really kind of a reorganization of our community development function, writ large," said Ryan Garcia, South St. Paul's economic development manager.
Garcia was hired two years ago as the city's first development manager, an early step in the process of providing a "more comprehensive range of services, programs and policies in the arena of economic development," according to a city memo.
Garcia would lead the new department, which would include planning and zoning.
The City Council was set to vote on the idea last Monday but decided to table it for more discussion. "I don't perceive a lack of support [from the council] in concept," Garcia said.
Erin Adler
WOODBURY
County buys site for service campus
The Washington County Board has agreed to purchase a 60-acre parcel in Woodbury for a future public service campus. The county will pay $3.65 million for the site.
The property, at the southeast corner of Bailey Road and Cottage Grove Drive, is "situated in the perfect location" next to other county property and adjacent to a parcel owned by Woodbury, said County Public Works Director Don Theisen.
Theisen said that Woodbury and the county will collaborate on a long-term plan for the site. Construction isn't expected to begin for at least five years.
