Stearns County Approves Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan

ST. CLOUD -- Stearns County is planning just over $26,000,000 worth of infrastructure projects over the next five years. The 2017 Capital Improvement Plan will include just over $19,000,000 in county issued bonds to pay a majority of the cost.

The CIP looks at the long term needs of the county's facilities, transportation, security, and parks and trails.

County Administrator Mike Williams says they are in the middle of a facilities' space study to determine future needs at the County Administration Center and the Westside Service Center.  He says the current Administration Center in downtown St. Cloud is 25-years-old and they are out of space.  Assistant County Administrator Stephen Hammes also says the Westside Service Center is also full, and more space is needed to efficiently deliver services to county residents.

Some of the projects included in the CIP are $6,000,000 each in 2018 and 2019 to expand the Westside Service Center, $2,000,000 to remodel the Administration Center, and approximately $1,000,000 to bring elevators in county buildings up to code.

Other projects include parking lot improvements, park and trail projects, and security upgrades.