The Worthington City Council on Monday night will consider approval a professional services agreement that would begin development of a storage building at Prairie Justice Center.
The Prairie Justice Center (PJC) Joint Operations Committee has discussed for several years the issues surrounding the storage of vehicles impounded, forfeited and confiscated by the Nobles County Sheriff and Worthington Police Departments. Currently, most vehicles are parked outside on the west and south sides of the facility. The number of vehicles in storage is often as many as 40 or 50 and visible to the neighboring residential area, exposed to the elements and generally unprotected.
The committee now wants to explore two options for the development of a storage building to house these vehicles. The first is to place the building on the PJC site currently owned by Nobles County. The second option to be reviewed is to acquire three to four acres of land on the north side of Airport Road and construct the facility in that location.
Staff requested a proposal from SEH Architecture to develop concept building and site design layouts and cost estimates for both options. Both options will include a pre-engineered steel building capable of storing 50 vehicles. One option will include an interior concrete floor, heated space and a fire suppression system. The other option will be a cold storage building with a gravel floor. The fee for the proposed architecture services would be performed for a lump sum fee of $6,400.00 plus reimbursable expenses. The cost for professional services would be shared between Nobles County and the City of Worthington.
In another matter, the council will consider a professional services agreement regarding County Ditch 12 Drainage Improvements Phase II. Construction of Phase I drainage improvements at County Ditch 12 were completed in 2019. Improvements included upgrading the Oslo Street culvert, Oxford Street culvert, and the large detention basin south of Interstate 90. The 2019 project reduced the FEMA regulatory floodplain within city limits, but portions of residential neighborhoods adjacent to CD 12 still remain within the regulatory floodplain and floodway.
Among the other items on Monday’s city council agenda are consideration of plans for a bridge replacement on Fox Farm Road and a task order providing surveying and project design services for improvements to the City Hall and former S&L Garage parking lots.
