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 commissioners Sourcewell purchased three parcels to support a long‑planned WonderTrek Children’s Museum and said, “We have no other plans at this point for any development in that area” beyond the museum; he said Sourcewell is working toward a long‑term lease with the nonprofit museum and that additional uses and timing remain under study.

Commissioners discussed options including doing nothing, fully proceeding with the 20‑year (roughly three‑inch) overlay planned for other segments, or installing a thinner overlay expected to last about five to eight years. Bray estimated that a one‑ to one‑and‑a‑half‑inch overlay would likely last about five to eight years on the existing base, while a three‑inch overlay is intended to last about 20 years.

Commissioner Barrows and others said the shorter fix would preserve county capital while giving Baxter and Sourcewell time to complete planning and to determine whether a future curve or realignment (which would be development‑driven and subject to the county’s cost‑share policy) is needed. County staff described the county’s cost‑share approach for development‑driven improvements: typically 75% city + developer and 25% county for development-driven intersections or curves discussed in the meeting.

Bray clarified the county is not proposing to delay the larger reconstruction portion of County Road 170 (the full reconstruct west of Mountain Ash to the county line) and said the current request applies only to the short yellow L‑shaped section shown on project maps. After discussion the board recorded consensus that Bray should work with Baxter and Sourcewell to identify an interim design and funding approach for the 2026 work, with the expectation that an approximately one‑inch overlay could be used as a short‑term measure if appropriate.

The county did not take a formal roll‑call vote; the chair solicited and recorded consensus: “Do I see consensus for Tim to work with the city in this regard in figuring out what the best short term solution would be? Yes. There is consensus.”

Next steps identified in the meeting: county staff will produce an interim design alternative and cost estimate for the small segment and continue capital‑plan coordination so the county’s five‑year highway improvement plan can reflect any change. Baxter city officials said any long‑term curve would be development‑driven and would require Baxter and the developer (or Sourcewell) to secure the larger share of funding when the project moves from study to construction.

Ending

County staff will return with design alternatives and cost estimates as planning proceeds; commissioners asked that Baxter and Sourcewell continue to brief the county so the highway improvement plan and any cost participation can be set when timelines firm up.