Waite Park Denies Request For Financial Support Of Highway 15 Project [AUDIO]

WAITE PARK -- The Waite Park City Council unanimously voted to deny a request asking for financial support of the Highway 15 Interchange Project.

The City of St. Cloud sent a letter formally asking Waite Park to be a financial partner. Waite Park was asked to contribute $500,000.

City administrator Shaunna Johnson says the city can't afford to be a partner at this time.

St. Cloud was awarded an $8.4-million Minnesota State TED Grant for the project. Due to the Minnesota Department of Transportation rules only $6.3-million of the project cost is eligible for reimbursement.

The project costs have exceeded what St. Cloud's letter calls "reasonable estimates." The total local cost is over $7-million.