WORTHINGTON - The Worthington City Council on Monday agreed to spend $5,300 to conduct an assessment survey and report of the Thompson Hotel roof.
The report, conducted by Minnesota consultant Inspec, will inform the city on the status of the roof and whether it should be repaired or replaced. The city has identified the leaky roof as the root cause of many mold and infestation issues in the apartment complex.
The city intends to use tax increment financing (TIF) dollars it obtained from the property for renovations to pay for the inspections. The cost of all repairs, including the inspection cost, will be charged back to the property owners via special assessments.
The council declared the building hazardous during its April 23 meeting, and the city got a court order July 9 to make its own repairs. Once it makes repairs to the roof, the city will address other issues.
Also during the meeting, the council gave city staff authority to explore a master plan that would lay out the transformation of the former Prairie View Golf Links property into a full-fledged park. Such a plan is required to get a “Regional Park” designation on the property from the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) - a designation that often comes with large state grants to renovate and improve the park.
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The plan would include landscaping and layout of the park, along with details of potential education programming. Jason Brisson, Worthington community and economic development director, estimated the plan would cost $25,000 to $27,000.
Brisson said Granite Falls was able to get approximately $1.5 million in funds from the GMRPTC for its regional parks between two successful applications. In those cases, the city agreed to match 10 and 15 percent of each grant, respectively. Brisson said Worthington’s proposed local match could have an impact on whether it gets grants.
Council members agreed to have Brisson solicit proposals for a long-range park plan.
“Even if we don’t get the regional park designation, having a long range plan for the park isn’t a bad idea,” Brisson said.
In other news, the council:
- Approved a change of zone application from Wetering Investments to rezone 2.9 acres located at 1535 Collegeway from a split major institution and planned use development to multi-family.
- Sent a change of zone application from Juan and Angela Palma to rezone 0.21 acres of property located south of Oxford Street between Burlington and Humiston avenues from low-density preservation residential to general business back to the Planning Commission. The council agreed to send the application back to the commission to revise the city’s comprehensive plan.
- Denied a change of zone application from Forum Communications to rezone its printing facility from B-2 to B-3 to use for warehousing. The council directed city staff to work with Forum to craft conditions, such as a daily limit of truck traffic to the building, that may allow for a warehouse facility.
- Approved a park bench donation from friends of Carolee Anderson. The bench will be placed in Olson Park along the bike trail in memory of Anderson.
- Agreed to auction off two city vehicles - a 1998 Ford F800 plow truck and 2000 Ford Taurus station wagon.
