Waite Park Officials Approve To Hire Relocation Consultant To Help With Hotel Project

WAITE PARK -- The pieces continue to be put together for construction a two-hotel and conference center in Waite Park.

During tonight's (Monday) city council meeting, the council approved hiring a third party to help clear their biggest hurdle -- relocating the residents of Tri-County Mobile Home Park.

Waite Park City Administrator Shaunna Johnson says the agreement between the city, Silver Leaf Group and Wilson Development Services will help make sure everything runs smoothly for all parties involved.

"A lot of times you need to get a third party consultant involved that's been very active in the redevelopment process. So we are entering an agreement with them to ensure all the laws are met by all parties," says Johnson.

By entering the agreement the city is also taking responsibility to cover some of the cost, along with Silver Leaf, to pay for the consultants services.

Throughout this process a lot of residents of the mobile home park have said do not want to move and have even gone as far as hiring an attorney.

Johnson says there are still many steps to go through before any of the home are moved, but things should start picking up steam very soon.

"It's a very large project, there are a lot of moving pieces to it, and so I would suspect we will have future actions on that in the future council meetings," says Johnson.

The proposed site, which stretches from Division Street at the corner of 6th Avenue South down to 4th Avenue South.

This is one of two hotel projects planned for Waite Park. Miller Architects wants to build a 90-room Staybridge Suites extended-stay hotel and also a 120-room Holiday Inn, including a restaurant and bar on a vacant lot next to Menards along Highway 23.