State of the City
Waite Park Mayor Rick Miller
2009 started out rough with cuts to city funding, but state and federal grants are helping Waite Park’s future look bright.
By Shaunna Johnson
We began 2009 by addressing the December 2008 unallotments of Governor Tim Pawlenty. Because our budgets were already finalized, we were forced to address the unallotments through budget reductions. We reduced our seasonal staff by two positions, eliminated the summer recreation program, limited the hours of the ice skating rink and open gym program, and reduced staff training and council per diems.
Funding
On the plus side, we successfully applied for several grants:
| - | $1.2 million from the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED) to continue work on the Waite Avenue Redevelopment Project. The grant must be used for public infrastructure and the work must be completed in the next four years. With the first phase complete, the remaining development depends on the property owners’ willingness to sell to the developers. |
| - | $220,000 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) in conjunction with the City of St. Cloud and Stearns County |
| - | COPS Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, to pay for the cost of an officer for three years |
| - | $2.4 million in federal stimulus funds for 28th Ave. allowing us to complete the entire project in one phase rather than two as originally planned. 28th Avenue (the road that runs by Mills Fleet Farm) will extend south to Country Road #137, providing important access to the southern part of Waite Park for both property development and the extension of city services. The project will be completed in 2010. |
Economic Development
Redevelopment and expansion projects completed in 2009:
| - | Walgreens |
| - | Taco John’s |
| - | Best Burger Ever, which remodeled the building previously occupied by Taco John’s |
| - | The Austrian Schnitzel Headquarters restaurant which opened in the Market Place Annex filling the space formerly occupied by the Vietnamese Restaurant |
| - | Pizza Ranch opened in the Market Place Annex near K-mart, filling the vacancy created by Outback Steakhouse |
| - | Aldi’s, a new grocery store, took over and remodeled half of the former Petter’s Warehouse building |
| - | D.J. Bitzan’s Jewelry opened across from Crossroads Mall as the first phase of the Waite Avenue Development Project |
| - | Discount Tire remodeled and moved into the former Ideal Radiator Building near 1st Street S and 6th Avenue S |
| - | The Crossroads Cinema Theater property, home to Famous Dave’s, is under construction. The remaining portion of this building is planned for retail space. |
| - | Tri-CAP moved its headquarters to County Rd #137, adding 3,800 square feet to their existing building in order to accommodate staff from their downtown St. Cloud location |
| - | Stearns County completed construction of its new service center in Waite Park, on the north side of County Road 138 west of 33rd Ave. S. The building incorporated several green construction provisions. |
Roads
The Waite Avenue/44th Avenue project was completed in the fall of 2009, extending 44th Avenue in St. Cloud to Waite Avenue in Waite Park (Apollo High School to Crossroads Mall). Recognizing this extension as a new entry point into our community, the City paid attention to the aesthetics and added landscaping and decorative lighting. This project was paid for with sales tax dollars.
Park and Trails
We completed the first two phases of River’s Edge Park: the addition and relocation of ball fields, parking lot improvements, additional trails, and a new splash pad.
We received a generous donation from a Waite Park native to extend the 3rd Street North Trail, connecting our trails along River’s Edge Park with Waite Avenue trails. This project will be completed in spring 2010.
This is an excerpt from the 2010 Waite Park State of the City address. The information was prepared by Shaunna Johnson, administrator of the City of Waite Park, sjohnson@waitepark.org. The Waite Park State of the City address is a joint effort of the City of Waite Park and the Waite Park Chamber of Commerce. A complete copy of the State of the City address can be found at
here.
