By TaLeiza Calloway
A vision for expanded city offices and a community center in the city’s downtown is a little closer to taking shape after a recent city council vote.
Elected officials unanimously voted to start negotiating a contract for architectural services with Hagemesiter Mack, a St. Cloud architectural firm, for the design of a potential government campus. St. Joseph City Administrator Judy Weyrens was authorized Feb. 16 to start negotiations and bring back a draft for council approval.
Hagmeister Mack was one of three firms that submitted proposals for design concepts for a government campus in the city’s downtown. The city also received proposals from GLTArchitects and Negen Architects, Weyrens said.
St. Joseph City Council member Dale Wick said the purpose of requesting the proposals was to help generate ideas for possible uses of the building that formerly housed the Central Minnesota Credit Union.
The city bought the building at 35 College Ave. N in November. While the minimum auction price was $130,000, the city purchased the property for $110,000, plus miscellaneous fees. The amount of those miscellaneous fees is still unknown.
The city will use funds from the half-cent sales tax to pay for the property.