Bathhouse, shelter would be demolished this year

By Barbie Porter

Editor

The Frazee City Council reviewed new drawings for the proposed beach house at Town Lake.

During the monthly council meeting in July, the initial plans were reviewed. The council asked the project to be scaled back and the facility made into a seasonal one. The new plans, created by Widseth, did just as was asked. The result was an estimated cost reduction of about $139,000.

When the project was first proposed, the building cost was about $674,000. The reduction of square footage of the structure reduced the cost to an estimated $535,000.

Widseth representatives explained after the plans are approved by the city council and an archeological study is completed, the plans would be sent to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. If the DNR had any recommended changes, those would then be reviewed in the final planning stages.

Widseth was brought aboard the project as it helped write the application for a multi-purpose building grant from the DNR. The grant would provide $250,000 in funding, with the remaining cost going to the city.

The grant is a match grant, so the funds put forth by the city can be through cash, value of materials, labor and equipment.

The scope of work being done for Widseth comes at a cost of about $40,536 for design completion and another $13,000 for a site survey and civil engineering.

The schedule for the project, if all kept to the proposed time line, would put the demolition for the picnic shelter and bathhouse in October. Bidding documents would be completed by December and the project would pick up again in June of 2022, with construction completion set for September of 2022.

Councilman Mark Flemmer recalled the project began when the city considered remodeling the current bathrooms in the bathhouse. He asked the cost of remodeling the current facility.

Frazee City Utilities Superintendent Larry Stephenson questioned if the foundation of the current bathhouse is stable. He added the tank for the bathroom facilities is deteriorating, and if they were to fix the facility, then they would need to bring it up to code for handicapped accessibility. Stephenson guessed with all the work needed, it would be cheaper to tear it down and build new.

Councilwoman Nicole Strand said she thought the upgrade was needed and would be used by residents and those utilizing the trail.

Councilman Mike Sharp questioned if grant funds from the State Highway 87 project could also be used with the bathhouse, as those using the trail would likely utilize the facility.

The city engineer said he’d contact his Minnesota Department of Transportation contact and ask.

Flemmer  expressed concern about the burden put upon tax payers with all the projects. He then noted the path, commercial building and potentially event center upkeep.

“I’m not against it, I just want to make sure we have the money to pay for it,” he said.

Sharp agreed they needed to dig into the finances of the project, review options for funding and talk to the city’s bond advisor.