Crow Wing County agrees to seek short-term fix on Mapleton Road after Sourcewell and Baxter request delay

Crow Wing County commissioners on May 20 agreed by consensus to pursue a short-term surface treatment for a portion of County Road 170 near the new Baxter elementary school while Sourcewell and the City of Baxter complete planning for development of adjacent parcels.

County Engineer Tim Bray told the Committee of the Whole the county has a planned 2026 project on the east section of County Road 170 but that Sourcewell — which purchased parcels in the area in March — and Baxter asked the county to reconsider the proposed long-term treatment for a short segment where a future realignment or curve might be built. “It was a request to kind of do something different than the promise that we've made to the public in this area,” Bray said, noting Sourcewell’s purchase and Baxter’s planning prompted the request to delay or change the scope.

Reed, identified in the meeting as director of facilities for Sourcewell, told…