County promises to keep Carlton buildings bustling

The next steps toward annexing land from Twin Lakes Township into Carlton were approved by the Carlton County board of commissioners during its meeting Tuesday, Nov. 9.

Carlton County attorney Lori Ketola discussed the two possible sites for the proposed Justice Center: one near the existing jail facility, the other northeast of the county transportation building on Old Highway 61. The board previously approved the forested "green site" in Twin Lakes Township, 2 miles from the city of Carlton.

"If the new jail is located [in the city], the county could take additional property for the center by eminent domain but it would cost an additional $3 to $8 million," she said. "If the Justice Center were located here by the transportation building, the city would annex the property."

A letter of understanding was presented for approval by the commissioners before it is submitted to the city for approval. The letter requests that the city enter into an Orderly Annexation Agreement with Twin Lakes Township for the property to be annexed to the city of Carlton. The county agreed to pay all the costs of the annexation.

The letter also stated the county agreed to continue to make use of the present courthouse and jail facility for the benefit of the local business economy of the city. The county would agree to maintain offices and staff (or rent out space) at the courthouse on floors 1, 2 and 3 at a level of at least 60-percent occupancy for the next 20 years.

The county also would agree that if the occupancy is below the required level, the county would agree to contribute $200 for every percentage point the occupancy is below that level to a city business subsidy fund in any given year. The fund is to help those businesses that are the most impacted by the lack of county clientele.

Ketola was concerned about future boards.

"I don't want to entrench future boards if the courthouse were not filled to capacity," she said. "I believe that we can satisfactorily maintain some occupancy in the courthouse and save $3 million by not building the Justice Center there. That's legally what the board can do."

Carlton County coordinator Dennis Genereau explained that there are no plans for the county to leave the courthouse.

"We explained to the city what departments will be staying in the courthouse," he said. "We plan to make it a more modern usable building."

Carlton city clerk/treasurer Carol Conway said that the city is concerned about maintaining business traffic.

"The ultimate goal is to see the foot traffic continue at the courthouse," she said.

Ketola pointed out that there would be penalties if the minimum occupancy was not maintained. At zero occupancy, it would cost the county $12,000 per year up to a maximum of $240,000 over 20 years. That's highly unlikely.

"That's the maximum liability if the county left the courthouse," Genereau said. "That amount goes down every year that we have staff in the courthouse. As your property manager, I am comfortable with that."

Commissioner Gary Peterson asked if other options were considered, such as 50-percent occupancy rather than 60 percent.

It was said that dropping the minimum occupancy was not necessary, that minimum occupancy at 60 percent was still viable.

There was also discussion about the proposal to move the Department of Motor Vehicles to the courthouse in 2025.

"We're not at that point to even entertain that," said commissioner Mark Thell.

County auditor/treasurer Kevin DeVriendt added, "It depends on how it plays out. Maybe in two years we might not even have a DMV."

"The county is not obligated to have a DMV," Ketola said. "This is why I'm concerned and why the agreement is highly problematic. That's why it makes so much sense to build by the transportation building. Sixty percent seems to fulfill their (the city's) request."

She went on to explain the city had originally requested the courthouse remain at a 60-percent minimum occupancy but that statement had not been in the latest letter of understanding from the city.

Commissioner Marv Bodie summed up the county's future building-use plans.

"Our hands are tied and the hands of future boards will also be tied because of what we are planning now," he said. "I don't think that Carlton has to worry about that building not being used or utilized for a long, long time."

The board passed a motion to approve the letter of understanding regarding the annexation by a vote of 4-1. Commissioner Tom Proulx voted no.

Editor's note: This story was corrected on Nov. 17, 2121.